Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians, 18849-18851 [2020-07092]

Agencies

• Executive Office of the President

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 64 (Thursday, April 2, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 18849-18851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07092]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 64 / Thursday, April 2, 2020 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 18849]]


                Memorandum of March 30, 2020

                
Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred 
                Enforced Departure for Liberians

                Memorandum for the Secretary of State [and] the 
                Secretary of Homeland Security

                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 (Public Law 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.

[[Page 18850]]

                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.

[[Page 18851]]

                The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and 
                directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal 
                Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, March 30, 2020

[FR Doc. 2020-07092
Filed 4-1-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4410-10-P