    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [September 27, 1999]
    [Pages 1611-1612]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Measures Regarding Certain Liberians in the United States
    September 27, 1999

    Memorandum for the Attorney General

    Subject: Measures Regarding Certain Liberians in the United States

        Over the past 10 years, many Liberians have been forced to flee
    their country due to civil war and widespread violence. From 1991
    through 1999, we have provided Liberians in the United States with
    Temporary Protected Status because of these difficulties. Although the
    civil war in Liberia ended in 1996 and conditions have improved such
    that a further extension of Temporary Protected Status is no longer
    warranted, the political and economic situation continues to be fragile.
    There are compelling foreign policy reasons not to deport these
    Liberians at this time, including the significant risk that such a
    decision would cause other countries in West Africa to repatriate
    involuntarily many thousands of Liberian refugees, leading to
    instability in Liberia and potentially threatening peace along the
    Liberian border.
        Pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign
    relations of the United States, I have determined that it is in the
    foreign

    [[Page 1612]]

    policy interest of the United States to defer for 1 year the deportation
    of any Liberian national who is present in the United States as of
    September 29, 1999, except for the categories of individuals listed
    below.
        Accordingly, I now direct you to take the necessary steps to
    implement for these Liberians:
            1.  deferral of enforced departure from the United States for 1
                year from September 29, 1999; and
            2.  authorization for employment for 1 year from September 29,
                1999.
        This directive shall not apply to any Liberian national: (1) who is
    ineligible for Temporary Protected Status for the reasons provided in
    section 244(c)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; (2) whose
    removal you determine is in the interest of the United States; (3) 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; (4) who voluntarily
    returned or returns to Liberia or his or her country of last habitual
    residence outside the United States; (5) who was deported, excluded, or
    removed prior to the date of this memorandum; or (6) who is subject to
    extradition.
        These measures shall be taken as of the date of this memorandum.

                                                          William J. Clinton