Biden administration extends temporary protections for Syrians

Jan 29, 2021

The Biden administration has renewed the temporary protected status of thousands of Syrians, ensuring they can stay in the United States through at least September 2022. 

David Pekoske, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced Friday an 18-month extension and redesignation of Syrians’ temporary protected status. 

The designation allows foreign nationals whose home countries are affected by natural disaster or war to stay in the United States until their country is safe for return. Temporary protected status can only be granted for up to 18 months, but an administration can extend the protections if dangerous conditions persist. 

A year after the civil war broke out in Syria, the Obama administration granted the status to Syrians in 2012 after determining that “extraordinary and temporary conditions” in their home country prevented their safe return. Under the new Department of Homeland Security order, more than 6,700 Syrians will retain their temporary protected status through September 2022 and an additional 1,800 who entered after August 2016 can apply for the special immigration protection. 

In a statement, the department said conditions in the war-torn country still are keeping Syrians living in the United States from safely returning.