[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 39 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[Page 1834]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 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