Secretary of Homeland Security Implements Deferred Enforced Departure for Palestinians

A Feb. 14, 2024, presidential memorandum on Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians directed Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to authorize employment through Aug. 13, 2025, for Palestinians covered by DED.  After a covered individual receives a DED Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a category of A11, they may present it to show they are authorized to work and that they are eligible for certain benefits.

When applying for a federal, state, or local government benefit or license, individuals will need to provide documentation to show they are a Palestinian individual covered under DED.  Individuals may provide a DED EAD with an A11 category or a Form I-797, Notice of Approval, for employment authorization with an A11 category.  SAVE will be able to verify an individual’s DED with information from these documents. 

For additional information, view the Federal Register notice implementing DED for Palestinians as well as the USCIS webpage on DED for Palestinians.