News > Immigration In Minnesota
Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians Extended
Posted on Mar 29 2019
On March 28, 2019, the Trump administration announced it would extend Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for one more year.
Liberian refugees fleeing Liberia’s civil war were first authorized to stay in the United States in 1991 under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) through President George H.W. Bush. In 2007, President George W. Bush continued the protection of Liberians in the United States by implementing DED. Initially intended to last 18 months, extensions of DED continued for eligible Liberians until March 31, 2018 when the Trump administration decided DED was no longer necessary. The wind-down period was to last a year and DED would officially end on March 31, 2019.
Isabella Wreh-Fofana said she screamed with joy when she heard the news, and then proceeded to call everyone she knew. At the press conference planned in defense of DED, she stated, “I’m grateful for the extension, but we need a permanent solution.”
Furthering Isabella’s message, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman said:
“We can’t have families keep returning to this place of extreme stress and wondering what the future will hold. Liberians protected under DED need an opportunity to apply for permanent residency. We talk a lot about Minnesota values, and this is part of that. In Minnesota we care about our neighbors, and our Liberian neighbors are Minnesotans. We are going to continue to stand with them.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who has been a key figure in the support of a lawsuit by Liberians, said, “Making people ride this roller-coaster year after year is inhumane, hurts families and wreaks havoc on our economy and communities. It’s no way for any Minnesotan to live.” He went on to highlight how integral the Liberian community is in Minnesota’s healthcare system.
While DED status for Liberians is extended automatically through March 30, 2020, employment authorization (EAD) was only extended through September 27, 2019. Anyone who may continue working during all or part of the full 12 month DED extension needs to file a new I-765, and should see an immigration attorney.