[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]
 BILLING CODE 9111-97-P