Twelve Month Reprieve for Liberians

Liberians living in the United States under Deferred Enforced Departure status, get a twelve month reprieve.  The U.S. State Department announced the decision today.  It means they can stay until March 31, 2019 when DED protections will terminate. They were facing a deadline of this Saturday.

Liberian leaders traveled to Washington DC earlier this month and rallied at the Minnesota Capitol on Monday. 

U.S. Congressman Erik Paulsen calls it a reprieve that will give Congress more time to work toward a permanent solution.

“While I’m encouraged that Liberian families no longer face an imminent threat of deportation, there’s still more work to do,” Paulsen said in a statement.  “The additional year gives me and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle more time to work toward a permanent solution, and it gives us more time to raise awareness and educate others about what our Liberian community means to Minnesota,” he said.