Good news for Palestinians in the U.S.
Amid the daily news from Gaza and Palestine and the lives lost, there is finally some good news for Palestinians in the U.S. covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently posted a Federal Register notice establishing procedures for DED Palestinians to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), aka work permits. Those work permits will be valid through Aug. 13, 2025.
The April 15 notice describes eligible Palestinians and acceptable documentation, such as a Palestinian Authority passport or identification card.
USCIS has reiterated that “it adjudicates each EAD application fairly, humanely, and efficiently on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet all standards and eligibility criteria.” Over the past year, USCIS has reduced EAD processing times overall and streamlined adjudication processing.
The news comes almost two months after President Biden issued a memorandum about DED for Palestinians on Feb. 14, 2024, deferring the removal of certain Palestinians present in the United States at the time of the announcement through Aug. 13, 2025. The memorandum directed the Department of Homeland Security to take appropriate measures to authorize employment for Palestinians eligible for DED and to consider suspending certain regulatory requirements for Palestinian F-1 non-immigrant students.
There is no application for DED. Palestinians are covered under DED based on the terms described in the president’s directive. Eligible Palestinians can apply for an EAD by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS. The cost is $470 if filing online and $520 for a paper filing.
Individuals who wish to travel outside of the United States based on DED must file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document with the USCIS. The cost is $630.
Remember that when submitting applications, photos must be “unmounted” and “unretouched.” Unretouched means the photos must not be edited or digitally enhanced. The submission of any mounted or retouched images will delay the processing of an application and may prompt USCIS to require an applicant to appear at an Applicant Support Center to verify their identity.
EAD cards will be mailed via U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail. The time it will take to receive an EAD card may vary, depending on USPS delivery times. Allow a total of 30 days from approval before inquiring with USCIS and use the Case Status Online and your USPS tracking number for EAD card delivery time. Anyone who has not received their EAD card within this time frame should visit the e-Request – Self Service Tools at uscis.gov for instructions about how to submit an inquiry.
Palestinians who entered the United States after Feb. 14, 2024, are not eligible for DED and therefore cannot apply for an EAD.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration threw another bone to Palestinian students: Palestinians on F-1 non-immigrant student visas may now also request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their courseload while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the DED period.
Felicia J. Persaud is the publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, a daily news outlet focusing on Black immigrant issues.
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