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Amy Klobuchar Statement on Extension of DED for Liberians "Liberians are our neighbors,
our co-workers, and important members of our communities," Klobuchar said. "This decision
to extend DED status will help ensure that those Liberians who are here legally can continue to call Minnesota home."
In 1989 a civil war in Liberia displaced over half the country’s population,
and many Liberians sought refuge in the United States. Since 1991, these refugees have been granted Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) or DED status by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Eliminating DED status and preventing Liberians from
applying for permanent residence status would force thousands of Liberian refugees to return to Liberia and could easily overwhelm
and reverse the advances that country has made in recent years. In June, Klobuchar, Senator Al
Franken and 14 other senators sent a letter to President Obama urging him to take swift action to extend DED status for eligible
Liberians living legally in the United States. Earlier this year, Klobuchar, Franken, and six senators introduced legislation
that would allow Liberians who have been residing in the United States legally under DED status to apply for permanent residency. Contact: 
month extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status for eligible Liberians living legally in the United States. More
than 30,000 Liberians reside in Minnesota and an estimated 1,000 are currently living under DED status as refugees from the
devastating civil war in Liberia. The current status is set to expire on September 30, 2011, and without this extension the
refugees would face deportation.
Linden Zakula, 202-228-6317
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