President Obama Extends DED for Liberians in US

Anthony Kesselly of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas says his group will now work for permanent resident status for those Liberians on DED
U.S. President Barack Obama has extended for 18 months the special immigration status for about 4,000 Liberians who fled to the United States during Liberia’s civil war.

The renewal of the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) takes effect March 31, 2010.

Although the Liberian civil war officially ended in 2003, President George W. Bush in 2007 deferred the enforced departure of those Liberians who originally were granted Temporary Protected Status.

In a memorandum to the Secretary of Homeland Security, President Obama cited “compelling foreign policy interest” for extending the DED.

Anthony Kesselly, president of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) said his organization is working with other immigration activists to eventually get permanent resident status for those Liberians on the DED.

“All Liberians, both those on DED and those of us who are necessarily on it are very, very happy and we are very grateful to the United States government, particularly President Obama. And we are very thankful to all of our allies who helped us through this process,” he said.

Kesselly said even though Liberia has had a democratically elected government for the past five years, the country is not yet stabled enough to handle Liberians who might be deported from the U.S.