[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Durbin, Ms. 
        Klobuchar, Ms. Smith, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. 
        Duckworth):
  S. 456. A bill to provide for the adjustment of status of certain 
nationals of Liberia to that of lawful permanent residents, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am reintroducing the Librarian 
Refugee Immigration Fairness Act. I am pleased to be joined in this 
effort by Senators Whitehouse, Durbin, Klobuchar, Smith, Cardin, and 
Van Hollen.
  In 1989, a seven-year civil war broke out in Liberia that claimed the 
lives of over 200,000 people, displaced over half of the Liberian 
population, halted food production, and destroyed the country's 
infrastructure and economy. A second civil war then followed from 1999 
to 2003, further destabilizing the country and creating more turmoil 
and hardship for its people. Then from 2014 to 2016, Liberia faced an 
Ebola virus outbreak that devastated the country's fragile health 
system and killed nearly 5,000 people. As a result of these tragedies, 
thousands of Liberians sought refuge in the United States, living and 
working here under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred 
Enforced Departure (DED) systems, extended under both Republican and 
Democratic administrations beginning in 1991.
  The reality is that for more than a quarter of a century, the United 
States has been home to law-abiding and taxpaying Liberians. They fled 
violence, turmoil, and disease to come here. Many now have children who 
are American citizens, some of whom serve in the Armed Forces. They 
have worked hard, played by the rules, paid their dues, and submitted 
to rigorous vetting.
  But now, as a result of President Trump's decision to terminate DED 
for Liberians, this population could face the risk of deportation on 
March 31st. Uprooting them now would be cruel and harmful to them, 
their families, employers, and communities.
  And while things are improving on the ground in Liberia, following 
the first democratic transition of power in decades, there are still 
serious concerns about the country's stability and ability to maintain 
peace and deliver essential services to its population. So though few 
in number, the influx of Liberians from the United States could 
overburden the country's limited infrastructure and reverse the 
progress that the Liberian people and government have made.
  Given these challenges, we believe that it is in the national 
security, foreign policy, and humanitarian interest of the United 
States for this population to remain here. I have introduced the 
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act in every Congress since 1999 
because this community deserves a long-term solution after decades of 
uncertainty. This bill provides legal status and a pathway to 
citizenship for qualifying Liberians. I have worked with several of my 
colleagues over the years to include this pathway in comprehensive 
immigration reform bills that passed this body only to die in the House 
of Representatives.
  The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act would end the perpetual 
limbo for Liberians here in the United States and ensure our security 
interests in fostering Liberia's continuing postwar and post-Ebola 
recovery. This legislation offers much-needed certainty for the 
Liberian community, and it should be part of any bipartisan and 
comprehensive solution for our broken immigration system. I thank 
Senators Whitehouse, Durbin, Klobuchar, Smith, Cardin, and Van Hollen 
for cosponsoring this bill and urge our colleagues to join us to 
finally provide a pathway to citizenship for eligible Liberians who 
contribute so much to our American community.
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