Ellison Applauds President Obama's Extension of Temporary Status for Liberian Refugees

Press Release

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) welcomed President Obama's decision today to extend Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status by 18 months to Liberians residing legally in the United States. There are approximately 3,600 Liberians in the United States on a temporary status. More than 1,000 reside in Minnesota.

"I applaud President Obama for extending DED status for our Liberian neighbors," Representative Ellison said. "We owe it to the Liberian families to keep them together and ensure that they have a place in our communities."

In 1991, Liberians fleeing a vicious civil war received Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States. The TPS expired in October 2007 when the conflict situation improved somewhat. The former refugees received Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), which is set to expire September 30, 2011.

Rep. Ellison has worked closely with Liberian community leaders and in March he introduced the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (H.R.1293), which would allow Liberian nationals here under the DED status to apply for permanent residency. The legislation is still pending. In May, Ellison and several of his colleagues urged the Obama Administration to extend Liberians' DED status.

"This is not the end of our fight for Liberian citizenship," Ellison said. "I will continue to work with both the President and Members of Congress to allow these Liberian families to apply for permanent U.S. residency."

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