Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
Washington – US President Donald Trump has extended the Deferred Enforcement Departure for Liberians residing in the United States for another year, FrontPageAfrica has learned.
The DED program provides thousands of Liberians authorization to work and live in the United States. The protected status was set to expire on March 31, 2019 and had in recent days drawn protests and advocacy from Liberians across America, supported by several leading US lawmakers and officials.
In an executive order signed Thursday, the US President wrote:
“In a memorandum dated March 27, 2018, I determined that, although conditions in Liberia had improved and did not warrant a further extension of DED, the foreign policy interests of the United States warranted affording an orderly transition (“wind-down”) period to Liberian DED beneficiaries. At that time, I determined that a 12-month wind-down period was appropriate; that wind-down period expires on March 31, 2019,” Trump wrote in a memo. “Upon further reflection and review, I have decided that it is in the foreign policy interest of the United States to extend the wind-down period for an additional 12 months, through March 30, 2020. The overall situation in West Africa remains concerning, and Liberia is an important regional partner for the United States. The reintegration of DED beneficiaries into Liberian civil and political life will be a complex task, and an unsuccessful transition could strain United States-Liberian relations and undermine Liberia’s post-civil war strides toward democracy and political stability. Further, I understand that there are efforts underway by Members of Congress to provide relief for the small population of Liberian DED beneficiaries who remain in the United States. Extending the wind-down period will preserve the status quo while the Congress considers remedial legislation.”
The US President added: “Pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign relations of the United States, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate measures to accomplish the following:
(1) The termination of DED for all Liberian beneficiaries effective March 31, 2020;
(2) A continuation of the wind‑down period through March 30, 2020, during which current Liberian DED beneficiaries who satisfy the description below may remain in the United States; and
(3) As part of that wind-down, continued authorization for employment through March 30, 2020, for current Liberian DED beneficiaries who satisfy the description below.
The 12-month wind-down period and 12-month continued authorization for employment shall apply to any current Liberian DED beneficiary who has continuously resided in the United States since October 1, 2002, but shall not apply to Liberians in the following categories:
(1) Individuals who are ineligible for TPS for reasons set forth in section 244(c)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B));
(2) Individuals whose removal the Secretary of Homeland Security determines to be in the interest of the United States;
(3) Individuals 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;
(4) Individuals who have voluntarily returned to Liberia or their country of last habitual residence outside the United States;
(5) Individuals who were deported, excluded, or removed before the date of this memorandum; or
(6) Individuals who are subject to extradition.
The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
“We are relieved that we have won this battle to keep Liberian families together, but the fight for full citizenship continues. We are calling on Congress to pass the Dream and Promise Act for permanent relief for DACA, DED, and TPS holders.”
Mr. Wynfred Russell, Brooklyn Park City Council-member
Mr. Abdullai Kiatamba, Executive Director Of African Immigrant Services and Acting National Chairman of the Liberian DED Campaign told FrontPageAfrica that the executive order by President Trump would bring temporary relief for thousands although it is unclear what efforts are being made to offer a permanent solution to an annual headache for Liberians residing in the US without permanent status.
Kiatamba said the massive Liberian lobbying efforts in Washington DC in mid-March, the powerful stories of DED holders, and roles of American leaders and communities tilted the scale in favor of President Trump’s approval, especially in a hostile anti-immigrant climate.
Added Kiatamba: “This one-year extension represents an important progress in our national immigration campaign”, Said Abdullah Kiatamba, Executive Director Of African Immigrant Services and Acting National Chairman of the Liberian DED Campaign. “We are determined to fight until we get permanent resident status for all Liberians on DED and TPS.”
“This one-year extension represents an important progress in our national immigration campaign”, Said . “We are determined to fight until we get permanent resident status for all Liberians on DED and TPS.”
Mr. Abdullah Kiatamba, Executive Director Of African Immigrant Services and Acting National Chairman of the Liberian DED Campaign
Mr. Wynfred Russell, a Brooklyn Park City Council-member says the extension is a major relief for Liberians but the fight is not over. “We are relieved that we have won this battle to keep Liberian families together, but the fight for full citizenship continues. We are calling on Congress to pass the Dream and Promise Act for permanent relief for DACA, DED, and TPS holders.”
Mr. Russell said both Democrats and Republicans must put the interests of their constituents ahead of party politics. “President Trump terminated DED last year and he is reinstating it for one year while we try to find a legislative fix, adding, this is not extension but a reinstatement.”