THE AFRICA BAZAAR MAGAZINE Staff Writer

March 28, 2019

The United States President Donald J. Trump Wednesday signed a memorandum allowing Liberian citizens currently living in the U.S. who are eligible for temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure to stay in the U.S. until the end March 2020.

In the letter released by the White House, President Trump said that after consideration and assessment of the current situation in Liberia, he decided that it is in the best interests of America’s foreign policy to continue the wind-down period, which was initially scheduled to expire at the end of this month, for an additional 12 months.

“The relationship between the United States and Liberia is unique, and Liberia is an important regional partner [in West Africa] for the United States,” President Trump said in the letter. “The reintegration of DED beneficiaries into Liberian civil and political life will be a complex task, and an unsuccessful transition could strain United States-Liberian relations and undermine Liberia’s post-civil war strides toward democracy and political stability.  Further, I understand that there are efforts underway by Members of Congress to provide relief for the small population of Liberian DED beneficiaries who remain in the United States.  Extending the wind-down period will preserve the status quo while the Congress considers remedial legislation.”

The extension only applies to current Liberians DED beneficiaries who have been continuously employed and have only lived in the U.S. since October 2002.