Biden Extends Protections for Hong Kong Residents in U.S., Wall Street Journal, Jan. 26, 2023.
By Andrew Restuccia and Charles Hutzler
President allows two-year stays, criticizes China’s ‘assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy’
Hong Kong residents in the US will be permitted to stay for at least two years even if their visas expire, under a White House order preventing their deportation to the city, where China has imposed a withering crackdown on political dissent. In a memorandum issued on Thursday, President Biden extended the Deferred Enforced Departure program for Hong Kong residents, which offers legal protections to Hong Kongers currently in the US. Those protections were set to expire on Feb 5. Under the program, Hong Kong residents can receive work permits so they can live and work in the US legally while they are covered by the temporary humanitarian protections. Any Hong Kongers in the US, such as students, tourists or employees on work visas, are eligible, even if their visas have expired. Hong Kong activists and rights groups in the US have been urging the Biden administration to extend the deferral status. The program was instituted two years ago as Beijing tightened controls over antigovernment protests, dissent and civil-society activism in Hong Kong. That clampdown has continued unabated, including arrests and trials. Mr. Chu said the program has helped about 4,000 Hong Kongers in the US avoid political persecution, rigged trials and detention. He said Thursday’s White House order could expand the numbers that will be protected.