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Klobuchar Announces Obama Administration Extends Protective Status for Liberians Residing Legally in the U.S.

Says temporary status has been extended, legislation to grant permanent status introduced in Senate

March 20, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that President Obama has extended Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status to eligible Liberians residing legally in the U.S., granting them a twelve month reprieve from imminent deportation.   More than 30,000 Liberians reside in Minnesota and an estimated 1,000 currently are living under DED status as refugees from a devastating civil war in Liberia.  Since 1991, these refugees have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.  The refugees are currently under DED status, which was set to expire on March 31, 2009. 

Earlier this month, Klobuchar, along with Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), John Kerry (D-MA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to direct the Attorney General to extend DED status for all eligible Liberians residing U.S., including those who legally arrived after October 2002.

Also, Senator Klobuchar joined Sen. Jack Reed and others in introducing the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2009 (S. 656) yesterday.  The bill would allow Liberians who were brought to the United States legally under temporary protection status classification to apply for citizenship.

"It was the right decision to grant Liberians extended DED status.  The Liberian Community has become an important part of the social fabric of Minnesota - they are our neighbors and our co-workers,” said Klobuchar.  “While Liberia continues to be unstable, it is important that Liberians who are here legally are able to continue to call Minnesota home. This extension will allow us to continue our pursuit of a more permanent solution."

Klobuchar says that an influx of thousands of Liberians from the United States could easily overwhelm and reverse the advances that Liberia has made in recent years.   She also points out that Liberians in the United States are providing financial support to Liberia through remittances to their families currently in the country.

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