FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2019
Contact:
Assefash Makonnen, African Communities Together
1 (646) 504-6103; assefash@africans.us
Brian Erickson (Camino PR), UndocuBlack Network
1 (631) 459-2173; brian@caminopr.com
BLACK IMMIGRANT ORGANIZATIONS APPLAUD CONGRESSIONAL MOVE TOWARDS PROVIDING LIBERIAN IMMIGRANTS WITH IMMEDIATE PATH TO PERMANENT STATUS
WASHINGTON, DC – African Communities Together and UndocuBlack Network are encouraged by the House of Representatives’ passage of a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will allow eligible Liberians to gain permanent residency in the U.S. We lift up the courageous leadership of Liberian immigrants with Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure and their communities and families who have bravely spoken up and advocated for permanent status for over 20 years.
We sincerely thank and applaud U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) for including the provision and for his steadfast support of the Liberian community in Rhode Island and across the country. This provision, modeled on Senator Reed's Liberian Refugee and Immigrant Fairness Act, is a major victory for upwards of 4,000 Liberians who have been living in the U.S. on temporary status, some for over 20 years. Permanent status will afford these Liberians, their families, and their communities the certainty, stability, and security that their temporary status has not provided. We urge the Senate to ensure inclusion of this provision in the final version of the NDAA and look forward to the President’s signature.
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About African Communities Together
African Communities Together is an organization of African immigrants fighting for civil rights, opportunity, and a better life for African families in the U.S. and worldwide. ACT connects African immigrants to critical services, helps Africans develop as leaders, and organizes African immigrant communities on the issues that matter. www.africans.us
About the UndocuBlack Network
UndocuBlack Network is a multi-generational network of currently and formerly undocumented Black people that fosters community, facilitates access to resources, and contributes to transforming the realities of our communities, so that all people are thriving and living their fullest lives. www.undocublack.org