Liberian Deferred Enforced Departure (U.S.)
On September 12, 2007, the President of the United States, George W. Bush issued a memo establishing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Liberian citizens who currently have TPS and who have resided in the United States since October 1, 2002.
Liberians who have DED will not be deported from the United States for 18 months starting October 1, 2007 and ending on March 31, 2009. Liberians who are granted DED will also be given employment authorization which will be valid for 18 months starting October 1, 2007.
Why Liberia is Not Ready for the Return of Those on TPS
Last month, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP and The Advocates for Human Rights released a paper highlighting the reasons the United States government should not end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Liberians, which expires on October 1, 2007.
Thousands of these Liberians legally live and work in the United States under Temporary Protected Status. Although the war ended in 2003 and Liberians elected a new government in 2005, Liberia’s economy, infrastructure, and social services remain devastated. Illiteracy is estimated to be between 70 and 80 percent in Liberia. The unemployment rate is at least as high. School buildings are in poor condition and overcrowded; students are taught by unqualified teachers. The majority of the population still lives without clean drinking water, access to health care, or electricity. Liberia’s police force is poorly equipped, and Liberia’s high crime rate is exacerbated by high unemployment.
Dorsey’s report, Liberia Is Not Ready: A Report of Country Conditions in Liberia and Reasons the United States Should Not End Temporary Protected Status for Liberians, examines the most recent accounts of the country conditions in Liberia. The report focuses on the country’s refugee return program, economy, infrastructure, health care, education, security, and justice systems. The findings in the report underscore the vital need to grant the Liberian government time to establish itself as a stable and secure democracy that is able to provide for its population. Liberians should be allowed to remain in the United States while the Liberian government moves forward during this critical time in its history.
Who Is Eligible for DED 2007?
To be eligible for DED, a person must demonstrate that he or she is a Liberian national, who is under a grant of TPS as of September 30, 2007 and who has continuously resided in the United States since October 1, 2002. (See “Who Is Not Eligible” for exceptions). You must currently have TPS in order to be eligible for DED.
How to Register:
According to the Fact Sheet issued by the Department of Homeland Security on September 12, 2007, DED will be automatic for qualified Liberians. A notice will published very shortly in the Federal Register providing details about the automatic extension of employment authorization for DED eligible individuals. At this time, no action is required to register for DED.
***We are expecting further instructions to be issued by USCIS in the Federal Register. This fact sheet will be updated as new information becomes available. Please verify that this information is up to date by referring to www.uscis.gov website.***
Who is not eligible for DED?
- Liberian citizens who do not have a grant of TPS as of September 30, 2007;
- Liberian citizens who are also citizens of another country;
- Liberians who have been convicted of a felony in the United States;
- Liberians who have been convicted of two or more misdemeanors in the United States;
- Liberians who participated in any way in the persecution of someone on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in particular social group or political opinion;
- Liberians who were convicted of a particularly serious crime and as such are a danger to the community of the United States;
- Liberians who have committed serious non-political crimes outside the United States before arriving in the United States;
- Liberians whose removal from the United States is determined to be in the interest of the United States;
- Liberians whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States;
- Liberians who voluntarily returned or return to Liberia or his/her country of last habitual residence outside the United States;
- Liberians who were deported, excluded, or removed prior to September 12, 2007;
- Liberians who are subject to extradition.
Click for a PDF of the USCIS fact sheet on Liberian Deferred Enforced Departure.
Click to download a Practice Advisory on Liberian Deferred Enforced Departure from The Advocates for Human Rights
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