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Klobuchar Announces Extension of Protective Status for Liberians Residing Legally in the U.S.

March 19, 2010

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that President Obama has extended Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status to eligible Liberians residing in the U.S., granting them a 18-month reprieve from imminent deportation and allowing them to continue to legally live and work in the U.S.   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.  The current DED status for eligible Liberians was set to expire on March 31, 2009. 

“Granting Liberians extended DED status is the right decision. 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 we continue to pursue a permanent solution, it is important that Liberians who are here legally can continue to call Minnesota home.”

Last month Klobuchar and 12 other senators, including Senator Al Franken, sent a letter to the President calling for the extension of DED status and highlighting the instability that still exists in Liberia.   

Klobuchar has also previously joined in the introduction of the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act which would allow Liberians who were brought to the United States legally under temporary protection status classification to apply for permanent residency.  Additionally, she helped lead the successful fight grant to DED to eligible Liberians in September 2007, authorized by President Bush, and again pushed for the one-year DED extension authorized by President Obama in March 2008.  Congressman Ellison led similar efforts in the House.

In 1989, a civil war in Liberia displaced over half the country’s population and many Liberians sought refuge in the United States.  Since 1991, these refugees have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status by both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Klobuchar said 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 noted 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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