[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19500-19501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07356]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Memorandum on Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred
Enforced Departure for Liberians
AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department
of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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A ``Memorandum on Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred
Enforced Departure for Liberians'' was issued by President Trump on
March 30, 2020. The President determined that it is in the foreign
policy interests of the United States to extend the Deferred Enforced
Departure (DED) wind-down period for Liberians through January 10,
2021. The President directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to
extend the DED wind-down period for eligible Liberians currently
covered under DED and to provide for continued work authorization
through January 10, 2021. The President further authorized and directed
the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish this memorandum
[[Page 19501]]
in the Federal Register. The text of the memorandum is set out below.
Joseph Edlow,
Deputy Director for Policy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Memorandum on Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred Enforced
Departure for Liberians
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 (Pub. L. 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.
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.
The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and directed to
publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Donald J. Trump
[FR Doc. 2020-07356 Filed 4-3-20; 4:15 pm]
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