Washington, DC | www.adc.org | October 24, 2024 – Following direct and active engagement with ADC, MPAC, and Michigan State Representative Alabas Farhat, members of the Michigan House Delegation today sent a letter to President Biden calling on the Biden-Harris Administration to establish a humanitarian parole program for Lebanese citizens seeking to escape the violence of Israel’s war of aggression. The Israeli ground invasion and relentless aerial bombardment have resulted in the deaths of thousands and displaced over 1.2 million people. Essential services are faltering, and the shortage of food, fuel, and medical supplies is worsening with each passing day.
ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said, “We thank the members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation who have directly communicated to President Biden the urgent necessity of establishing a humanitarian parole program. The Lebanese people face a dire situation, and the United States has both the responsibility and capability to provide a desperately needed refuge for citizens under constant assault. At the same time, the reality remains that the most important action the Biden-Harris Administration can immediately take is an immediate arms embargo on Israel, and implementation of an immediate ceasefire.”
“This conflict has caused immense hardship for the Lebanese community. People in my district fear for their loved ones in Lebanon,” MI State Rep. Alabas Farhat said. “I am hopeful that this letter will encourage the Biden Administration to act swiftly to implement humanitarian parole and also secure a permanent ceasefire. We cannot stand by as innocent lives are lost. Humanitarian parole programs are crucial to reducing civilian casualties.” Rep. Farhat continued, “Parole can provide lifesaving relief and offer a legal pathway to safety for individuals fleeing conflict. We have seen how such programs have made a real difference, and now is the time for that compassion and support to be extended to Lebanese nationals.”
Just last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced a number of new actions to provide temporary immigration protections to Lebanese nationals currently in the United States. These actions are vital to protecting Lebanese citizens already in the US, though ADC has continued to pressure the Biden Administration to take action in order to provide humanitarian parole and family reunification for Lebanese citizens who are facing expanding daily assaults by the Israeli military.
In coordination with the letter from the Michigan Congressional Delegation, ADC partnered with the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) to send a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging him to demonstrate the same leadership shown for Ukrainians and Afghans when they faced humanitarian crises. The letter emphasized that such a program is a moral obligation for the Administration, given their unwavering support for Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.
MPAC Vice President of Policy and Programming Haris Tarin said, “The actions announced last week by DHS were important steps towards protecting Lebanese citizens here in the US, now we need the Biden Administration to take the next essential step of establishing a humanitarian parole program. They have proven that it can be done for other crises and this one should be no different.”