[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 37 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Pages 1203-1204]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Measures Regarding Certain Liberians in the United States

September 12, 2007

Memorandum for the Secretary of Homeland Security

Subject: Measures Regarding Certain Liberians in the United States

    Since 1991, the United States has provided safe haven for Liberians 
who were forced to flee their country as a result of armed conflict and 
widespread civil strife. Eventually, many Liberians were granted 
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and permitted to remain and obtain work 
eligibility in the United States temporarily. Although the armed 
conflict in Liberia ended in 2003 and conditions have improved, I have 
found that the political and economic situation in Liberia continues to 
be fragile.
    While acknowledging the progress ongoing in Liberia under that 
country's current administration, I have determined that there are 
compelling foreign policy reasons not to enforce the removal of 
Liberians presently residing in the United States under TPS. In 
particular, Liberia is struggling to implement reconstruction and 
economic stabilization programs for the population, including the 
thousands of former Liberian refugees who have returned from the West 
African region and elsewhere.
    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 18 months the 
removal of any Liberian national (or person without nationality who last 
habitually resided in Liberia) who is present in the United States and 
who is under a grant of TPS as of September 30, 2007, and who has 
continuously resided in the United States since October 1, 2002, 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 
            18 months from October 1, 2007; and

[[Page 1204]]

     2.
             authorization for employment for 18 months from October 1, 
            2007.
    This directive shall not apply to any Liberian national (or person 
without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia): (1) who is 
ineligible for TPS for the reasons provided in section 244(c)(2)(B) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B); (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 has 
voluntarily returned 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.
                                                George W. Bush