Trump: End of Relief for Liberians
On March 27, 2018, President Trump issued a memo directing the Department of Homeland Security to begin a 12-month wind-down period of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians, starting April 1, 2018, and running through March 31, 2019. USCIS will automatically extend employment authorization documents (EADs) for current Liberian DED beneficiaries who have EADs bearing a March 31, 2018 expiration date until Sept. 30, 2018, but beneficiaries will need to apply for employment authorization for the final 6 months.
The conclusion of the President’s memo:
“I find that conditions in Liberia no longer warrant a further extension of DED, but that the foreign policy interests of the United States warrant affording an orderly transition (“wind-down”) period to Liberian DED beneficiaries. In consultation with my advisors, I have concluded that a 12‑month wind‑down period is appropriate in order to provide Liberia’s government with time to reintegrate its returning citizens and to allow DED beneficiaries who are not eligible for other forms of immigration relief to make necessary arrangements and to depart the United States.”
KJ