The United States will suspend the deportation of any individual presently in the country who would be returned to an area severely affected by the tsunami, the Homeland Security Department said Monday.

"Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis and based on specific circumstances," the department said in a statement while announcing temporary relief measures for people from countries in South and Southeast Asia that were hart hit by last month's disastrous tsunami.

The measures "will be made available to those individuals who are unable to return to their home country or are currently traveling in the United States due to the destruction and humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia," the statement said.

The Citizenship and Immigration Services will expedite the processing of certain immigration applications, including requests for advance parole and relative petitions for minor children from the affected areas, and will more readily approve applications from visitors from the tsunami-affected countries who are requesting a change or extension of their nonimmigrant status, it said.

According to the statement, beginning Jan. 7, individuals from either Sri Lanka or Maldives who are under a final order of removal will be granted a stay of removal for 90 days. The stay isautomatic, and no request or petition is necessary.

Nonimmigrant visitors and aliens that receive a stay of removalmay be eligible to apply for or receive employment authorization so that they may financially support themselves, or potentially help the rebuilding effort by sending remittances to their home country, the statement said.