IRC welcomes extension of Temporary Protected Status for Lebanon

New York, NY, May 29, 2026 —  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) welcomes the U.S. government’s announcement extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for six months for Lebanese nationals living in the United States. TPS protects foreign nationals residing in the United States from deportation when conditions in their home countries make it unsafe to return. This extension not only protects hundreds of Lebanese nationals living in the United States, it also strengthens American communities that rely on the essential services TPS holders provide. Together, TPS holders from all designated nationalities contribute an estimated $36 billion to U.S. GDP each year, strengthening local economies nationwide. 

“In Lebanon this month, I met families living through airstrikes, displacement, and growing food insecurity. Extending Temporary Protected Status means Lebanese nationals in the United States will not be forced back into dangerous conditions but allowed to stay and continue supporting their families and contributing to their local communities,” said Kelly Razzouk, IRC Vice President of Policy & Advocacy, who visited Lebanon in May. “As conflict and humanitarian crises deepen around the world, the United States should continue providing this protection to people who cannot safely return home.”