Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians
| Published date | 02 April 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 18849 |
| Record Number | 2020-07092 |
| Section | Presidential Documents |
| Court | Executive Office Of The President |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 64 (Thursday, April 2, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 64 (Thursday, April 2, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 18849-18851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07092] Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 64 / Thursday, April 2, 2020 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 18849]]
Memorandum of March 30, 2020
Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred
Enforced Departure for Liberians
Memorandum for the Secretary of State [and] the
Secretary of Homeland Security
Since March 1991, certain Liberian nationals and
persons without nationality who last habitually resided
in Liberia (collectively, ``Liberians'') have been
eligible for either Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or
Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), allowing them to
remain in the United States when they would otherwise
be removable.
In a memorandum dated March 27, 2018, I determined that
although conditions in Liberia had improved and no
longer warranted 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. In a memorandum dated
March 28, 2019, I determined that an additional 12-
month wind-down period was appropriate. By the terms of
my memorandum, the wind-down period expires on March
30, 2020. In making my determination, I noted that
there were efforts underway by Members of Congress to
provide legislative relief for Liberian DED
beneficiaries, and that extending the wind-down period
would give the Congress time to consider the propriety
of enacting such legislation.
On December 20, 2019, I signed the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-
92) (NDAA), which included as section 7611, the
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision.
The LRIF provision provides certain Liberians,
including those who have been continuously present in
the United States since November 20, 2014, as well as
their spouses and children who meet the criteria of the
provision, the ability to apply to adjust their status
to that of United States lawful permanent resident
(LPR). Eligible Liberian nationals have until December
20, 2020, to apply for adjustment of status under the
LRIF provision.
The LRIF provision, however, did not provide for
continued employment authorization past the expiration
of the existing DED wind-down period. Once the DED
wind-down period expires, most covered Liberians will
have no basis upon which to renew or maintain
employment authorization before applying to adjust
their status.
I have, therefore, determined that it is in the foreign
policy interests of the United States to extend the DED
wind-down period for current Liberian DED beneficiaries
through January 10, 2021, to facilitate uninterrupted
work authorization for those currently in the United
States under DED who are eligible to apply for LPR
status under the LRIF provision.
[[Page 18850]]
The relationship between the United States and Liberia
is unique. Former African-American slaves were among
those who founded the modern state of Liberia in 1847.
Since that date, the United States has sought to honor,
through bilateral diplomatic partnership, the
sacrifices of individuals who suffered grievous wrongs
in the United States, but who were determined to build
a modern African democracy mirroring America's
representative political institutions. As President, I
am conscious of this special bond. Providing those
Liberians for whom we have long authorized temporary
status or deferred enforced departure in the United
States, and for whom the Congress has now provided the
ability to adjust status to that of lawful permanent
resident, with the ability to continue to work to
support themselves while they complete the process to
adjust their status, honors the historic, close
relationship between our two countries and is in the
foreign policy interests of the United States.
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) A continuation of the DED wind-down period
through January 10, 2021, during which current Liberian
DED beneficiaries who satisfy the description below may
remain in the United States; and
(2) As part of that wind-down, continued
authorization for employment through January 10, 2021,
for current Liberian DED beneficiaries who satisfy the
description below.
This further extension of the wind-down of DED and
continued authorization for employment through January
10, 2021, shall apply to any current Liberian DED
beneficiary, but shall not apply to Liberians in the
following categories:
(1) Individuals who would be 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 who sought or seek LPR status under
the LRIF provision but whose applications have been or
are denied by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(3) Individuals whose removal the Secretary of
Homeland Security determines to be in the interest of
the United States, subject to the LRIF provision;
(4) 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;
(5) Individuals who have voluntarily returned to
Liberia or their country of last habitual residence
outside the United States beyond the timeframe
specified in subsection (c) of the LRIF provision;
(6) Individuals who were deported, excluded, or
removed before the date of this memorandum; or
(7) Individuals who are subject to extradition.
[[Page 18851]]
The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and
directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, March 30, 2020
[FR Doc. 2020-07092
Filed 4-1-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4410-10-P
