President Obama announced an 18-month extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status for Liberians in the United States on August 16, according to a press release from the Advocates for Human Rights. Some of the Liberians awaiting this decision have been protected by this status since 1991. Minnesota has a significant Liberian population.
“We welcome the President's announcement extending DED," says Michele Garnett McKenzie, advocacy director at The Advocates for Human Rights, "and we now urge Congress to move forward to enact legislation granting permanent residence to those Liberians who are in the U.S. under this temporary program."
Legislation has been introduced in both the Senate and House to grant permanent resident status to Liberians currently here on DED — S. 1202 and H.R. 2185. Read more here >>
