Liberians on DED Face Uncertainty Once Again

Liberians on DED Face Uncertainty once again

As March 2009 approaches, Liberians on DED are uncertain of their future in the United States.

"Will Liberians on DED face deportation this time around" is the question everyone is asking. On March 23, 2009, President Barack Obama graciously approved of the Deferred

Enforced Departure for 12 months, which will officially expire in a few days (March 23rd, 2010). This extension granted Liberians the temporary right to live and work in the United States, but it is not clear what will happen.

Several Immigration Advocacy groups including community, religious, and faith-based organizations have been pushing for another extension of Liberian DED because of the impact deportation would have on both communities in the United States and in Liberia. Liberians and friends of Liberia are urged to join the effort to call the White House as well as their respective senators and representative to get President to extend DED for these Liberians.

Liberians our reporters spoke with said mometum is very low this year regarding the campaign for Liberians on DED. In the pass it was ULAA, the Liberian Community of Rhode Island, The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota and few other Liberian community organization led the campaigne. However, many of these organization are experiencing internal conflicts, law suits and divisions, making it difficult for them to effectively lead the Liberian immigration campaign.

Many Liberians currently given status through DED have resided in the U.S. for nearly two decades. They own businesses 940-liberia042507.standalone.prod_affiliate.2.JPG , have families, and are an integral part of the communities in which they live. To deport Liberians now would rupture both families and local economies.

According to a letter being sent to president Obama by various advocacy groups, "the devastating effects of the Liberian conflict continue to be felt there. Recognizing this, on July 16, 2009 you declared a continuation of a national emergency for the United States with respect to the security situation in Liberia. At that time you wrote of "a legacy of destruction that continues to undermine Liberia's transformation and recovery" and that poses "an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States." Liberians should not now be sent back to a country where their lives would be imperiled and their arrival would further destabilize the fragile peace."

The Liberian government needs time to rebuild the infrastructure and social services necessary to support its population and to establish a stable and secure democracy. Liberia still has an unemployment rate that soars at about 85% and many Liberians are dependent on remittances from family members in United States in order to survive.

Liberians were first given Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 1991 when Liberia was in the midst of a bloody civil war that was tearing the country apart. Liberian TPS was then extended each year until 2007, by which point the war had ended and democratic elections had taken place. Many Liberian refugees who fled civil war and human rights atrocities between 1990 and 2003 made homes in the United States. Now, for some of them, because their status is expiring, they are in danger of deportation to a fragile country and separation from their families, livelihoods, and communities.

As theses immigration advocacy groups exert efforts to have President Obama extend the Liberians DED for another 18 months, the future of these Liberians hangs in the balance.