How Lebanon’s Residency Rules Facilitate Abuse of Syrian Refugees
In January 2015, Lebanon ended its previously open-door policy for Syrians, which had allowed them to generally enter the country without a visa and to renew their residencies virtually free of charge. The new border entry regulations that came into force on January 5, 2015, denied entry to many Syrians fleeing armed conflict and persecution. The same day, General Security, the agency that oversees the entry and exit of foreigners into the country, implemented restrictive and costly residency renewal regulations.
This report finds that the new regulations impose onerous burdens on both groups of Syrians that bar most from renewing required residency permits. The loss of legal status puts refugees at risk of arrest, and, if detained, of ill-treatment in detention. Human Rights Watch research has found that it also makes them vulnerable to labor and sexual exploitation by employers, without the ability to turn to authorities for protection.
