COALITION APPLAUDS EXTENSION AND EXPANSION OF DEFERRED ENFORCED DEPARTURE FOR LIBERIA
Decision extends protection for thousands of Liberians living in the United States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2022
CONTACT: Lora Adams, lora@masadc.com
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Temporary Status and Deferred Enforced Departure Administrative Advocacy Coalition (TPS-DED AAC) commends the Biden administration for extending and expanding Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians living in the United States. DED provides protection from deportation and permission to work for thousands of Liberian community members. Conditions in Liberia continue to necessitate protection, and solutions meant to help Liberians like the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) program have been fraught with administrative and procedural challenges. Extending DED for Liberia for two years and expanding eligibility to ensure more Liberians are covered is the right decision and recommended by advocates to address the difficulties of the LRIF program.
Diana Konaté, Policy Director at African Communities Together, stated: “We are extremely pleased to see the Biden administration extend and expand DED protection and work authorization for Liberians until June 30, 2024! This is welcomed news for the Liberians around the country who have continued their advocacy as the extreme backlogs at USCIS have led to job loss, added stress, and overall anxiety during an already precarious time in the United States. This is another major win! Many thanks to our Congressional champions, including Senator Reed, who continue to fight alongside us as we work to protect this population. We now eagerly await the Federal Register Notice and urge swift processing of any and all DED-related employment authorization documents.”
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The TPS-DED AAC is a national coalition of more than 100 organizations with deep expertise in law and policy surrounding TPS and DED. Member organizations range from community-based organizations directly serving impacted communities in the United States to international NGOs, working in and providing insight from affected countries.