Speech #1090165369

Now they face the prospect of being told they must return to this war zone. If conditions in Lebanon are so unsafe that we were forced to evacuate American citizens. innocent Lebanese who are visiting in the United States should be permitted to remain here until conditions in Lebanon improve. Granting temporary protected status to Lebanese nationals who are currently in the United States is consistent with Americas national interest. At this delicate moment in relations between the United States and the Middle East. giving temporary protected status to Lebanon will send a positive signal about United States concern for the suffering of innocent Lebanese civilians. Granting temporary protected status would also assist the fragile Lebanese Government by delaying the return of thousands of people who might be unable to return to their homes and would find themselves arriving back in their country only to become refugees. The efforts of Prime Minister Siniora and millions of other Lebanese to build a sovereign and democratic Lebanon deserve the respect and continued support of the United States. Granting temporary protected status to Lebanese citizens now in the United States would take the pressure off their Government as it struggles to meet its many new challenges. This would not be the first time we have done this. The United States extended temporary protected status to the people of Lebanon from March 1991 to March 1993. Before Congress created temporary protected status in 1990. we granted something called extended voluntary departure to provide blanket relief from deportation to Lebanese nationals during the height of the Lebanese civil war. Granting this type of relief will not endanger our security. The Government can deny or withdraw temporary protected status from any individual who might do harm to our Nation. Individuals convicted of serious crimes who are a threat to national security. such as suspected members of Hezbollah. are automatically ineligible for this status. The Department of Homeland Security may withdraw temporary protected status any time it finds an individual poses any threat to our country. So it isnt a blank check. Nor is temporary protected status a backdoor to U.S. citizenship. Aliens who are granted this status are not eligible to become legal permanent residents in this country. Granting this temporary protected status to Lebanon is consistent with American values. The people of Lebanon face a grave humanitarian crisis and we have a tradition in this country of providing safe haven to people in such circumstances. We must all work to a resolution to the current hostilities that creates lasting peace and security for both Israel and for Lebanon. In the meantime. let us provide a safe haven to Lebanese who are already within the United States while we strive for these larger goals. I urge my colleagues to support the Lebanese Temporary Protected Status Act of 2006. Mr. President. 1 ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.