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LIRS Welcomes President's 18-Month Extension of Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians
BALTIMORE, September 17, 2007—Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) welcomes President Bush’s recent decision to authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians. On September 12 the president directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to authorize an 18-month extension of DED for Liberians who are currently in the United States under a grant of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The president recognized that due to political and economic conditions Liberia is not prepared to receive an influx of Liberians and their family members, who would be forced to join them.
Since the outbreak of the Liberian civil war in 1990, the United States has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Liberian nationals who have been unable to return to their country due to unstable conditions. Last year, however, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that TPS would not be renewed for Liberians. An estimated 3,600 Liberians would have been forced to leave the United States when TPS expires on October 1, 2007.
The president’s authorization of DED will enable Liberians to remain in the United States until March 31, 2009, with work authorization. Recognizing the short-term nature of this solution, LIRS strongly urges Congress to enact legislation that will provide permanent legal status to Liberians. LIRS President Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr. remarked, “The Liberians under TPS have lived in the United States for many years as contributing members of our communities. If Congress grants them permanent status, Liberians will continue to contribute to our communities and economy. Just as important, they will send valuable remittances to Liberia to support the rebuilding of their home country. Permanent status would benefit everyone.”
Full text of the DHS Press Release can be found here.
LIRS is a cooperative agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. With initiative and stewardship, LIRS seeks creative solutions for uprooted people regardless of race, ethnicity or religious beliefs.
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