Employment Authorization for Lebanese F-1 Nonimmigrant Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship as a Direct Result of the Current Crisis in Lebanon

<NOTICE> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <SUBAGY>U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement</SUBAGY> <DEPDOC>[Docket No. ICEB-2024-0010]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1653-ZA54</RIN> <SUBJECT>Employment Authorization for Lebanese F-1 Nonimmigrant Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship as a Direct Result of the Current Crisis in Lebanon</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Department of Homeland Security. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suspending certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students from Lebanon who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Lebanon. The Secretary is providing relief to these students who are in lawful F-1 nonimmigrant status, so the students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 nonimmigrant status. </SUM> <DATES> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This action covers eligible Lebanese F-1 nonimmigrant students beginning on November 27, 2024, and ending on May 27, 2026. </DATES> <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Sharon Snyder, Unit Chief, Policy and Response Unit, Student and Exchange Visitor Program, MS 5600, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 500 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20536-5600; email: <E T="03">sevp@ice.dhs.gov,</E> telephone: (703) 603-3400. This is not a toll-free number. Program information can be found at <E T="03">https://www.ice.gov/sevis/.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">What action is DHS taking under this notice?</HD> The Secretary is exercising authority under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9) to temporarily suspend the applicability of certain requirements governing on-campus and off-campus employment for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Lebanon regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon), who are present in the United States in lawful F-1 nonimmigrant student status on the date of publication of this notice, and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Lebanon. Previously, DHS issued a notice which applied to F-1 nonimmigrant students from Lebanon who met certain criteria, including having been lawfully present in the United States in F-1 nonimmigrant status on July 26, 2024, that was effective through January 25, 2026. <E T="03">See</E> 89 FR 83897 (Oct. 18, 2024). While DHS's prior notice remains effective for eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students, effective with this publication, suspension of the employment limitations is also available through May 27, 2026, for those who are in lawful F-1 nonimmigrant status on the date of publication of this notice. DHS will deem an F-1 nonimmigrant student granted employment authorization through this Notice to be engaged in a “full course of study” for the duration of the employment authorization, if the student satisfies the minimum course load set forth in this notice. <FTREF/> <SU>1</SU> <E T="03">See</E> 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(F). <FTNT> <SU>1</SU>  Because the suspension of requirements under this notice applies throughout an academic term during which the suspension is in effect, DHS considers an F-1 nonimmigrant student who engages in a reduced course load or employment (or both) after this notice is effective to be engaging in a “full course of study,” <E T="03">see</E> 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6), and eligible for employment authorization, through the end of any academic term for which such student is matriculated as of May 27, 2026, provided the student satisfies the minimum course load requirements in this notice. </FTNT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Who is covered by this notice?</HD> This notice applies exclusively to F-1 nonimmigrant students who meet all of the following conditions: (1) Are a citizen of Lebanon regardless of country of birth (or an individual having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon); (2) Were lawfully present in the United States on November 27, 2024, in F-1 nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i); (3) Are enrolled in an academic institution that is Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified for enrollment for F-1 nonimmigrant students; (4) Are currently maintaining F-1 nonimmigrant status; and (5) Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current crisis in Lebanon. This notice applies to F-1 nonimmigrant students in an approved private school in kindergarten through grade 12, public school grades 9 through 12, and undergraduate and graduate education. An F-1 nonimmigrant student covered by this notice who transfers to another SEVP-certified academic institution remains eligible for the relief provided by means of this notice. <HD SOURCE="HD1">Why is DHS taking this action?</HD> DHS is taking action to provide relief to Lebanese F-1 nonimmigrant students experiencing severe economic hardship due to the current crisis in Lebanon. Based on its review of country conditions in Lebanon and input received from the U.S. Department of State (DOS), DHS is taking action to allow eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students from Lebanon to request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 nonimmigrant student status. Lebanon faces multiple and competing security threats, including political instability, civil unrest and violence, spill-over from the Syrian civil war, and increased border tension between Hezbollah  <SU>2</SU> <FTREF/> and Israel. <SU>3</SU> <FTREF/> Additionally, the deteriorating economic situation has led to alarming levels of poverty, food insecurity, and crumbling infrastructure. <SU>4</SU> <FTREF/> <FTNT> <SU>2</SU>  Hezbollah (also spelled “Hizballah”) was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. <E T="03">See</E> U.S. Dep't of State, Country Reports on Terrorism 2022, 276, Nov. 30, 2023, available at <E T="03">https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Country_Reports_on_Terrorism_2022-v3.pdf</E> (accessed Nov. 8, 2024). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>3</SU>  Instability in Lebanon, Global Conflict Tracker, Center for Preventive Action, Council on Foreign Relations, Oct. 28, 2024, available at <E T="03">https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-lebanon</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>4</SU>  Famine Early Warning System, Escalating conflict leads to rising population in need of food assistance, Sept. 2024, available at <E T="03">https://fews.net/middle-east-and-asia/lebanon/key-message-update/september-2024</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024); Mass displacement in Lebanon war revives spectre of sectarian strife, Reuters, Oct. 15, 2024, available at <E T="03">https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/mass-displacement-lebanon-war-revives-spectre-sectarian-strife-2024-10-15</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024). </FTNT> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Security Concerns</HD> Since October 7, 2023, there has been an escalation of hostilities across the Lebanon-Israel border between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. <SU>5</SU> <FTREF/> As of early October 2024, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated significantly. <SU>6</SU> <FTREF/> Increased Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, including urban regions in and around Beirut, have resulted in civilian casualties and displacement. <SU>7</SU> <FTREF/> According to Lebanese authorities, more than 2,300 people have been killed since October 2023 and 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes. <SU>8</SU> <FTREF/> On September 30, 2024, Israel launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon days after an Israeli air strike killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. <SU>9</SU> <FTREF/> Rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in the evacuation of both Israeli and Lebanese residents in communities along both sides of the shared border. <SU>10</SU> <FTREF/> <FTNT> <SU>5</SU>  Instability in Lebanon, Global Conflict Tracker, Center for Preventive Action, Council on Foreign Relations, Oct. 28, 2024, available at <E T="03">https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-lebanon</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>6</SU>  ReliefWeb, Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, on the One-Year Mark of Escalations in Lebanon, Oct. 9, 2024, available at <E T="03">https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/statement-humanitarian-coordinator-lebanon-imran-riza-one-year-mark-escalations-lebanon-9-october-2024-enar</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>7</SU>  Melanie Lidman, Bassam Hatoum, and Bassem Mroue, Israel expands its bombardment in Lebanon as thousands flee widening war, AP, Oct. 5, 2024, available at <E T="03">https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-lebanon-hezbollah-hamas-5-october-2024-a8b70daeccc57a86fc6d939c604f2caf</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>8</SU>  BBC, Israel-Hezbollah conflict in maps: Where is fighting happening in Lebanon, Oct. 17, 2024, available at <E T="03">https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vp7dg3ml1o</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>9</SU>   <E T="03">Id.</E> </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>10</SU>  NPR, Israel begins ground offensive in Lebanon, Oct. 1, 2024, available at <E T="03">https://www.npr.org/2024/10/01/g-s1-25657/israel-ground-offensive-lebanon</E> (last visited Nov. 5, 2024). ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 60k characters. 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