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Monrovia – Barely a week before the expiration of the Deferred Enforced Departure or Temporary Protective Status, which has given Liberians in the United States of America a safe haven for some 27 years, an internal memo obtained by FrontPageAfrica suggestInternal Memo: DED ‘Will Not be Renewed’; Offering Dim Hopes for Liberians in US
Monrovia – Barely a week before the expiration of the Deferred Enforced Departure or Temporary Protective Status, which has given Liberians in the United States of America a safe haven for some 27 years, an internal memo obtained by FrontPageAfrica suggests that despite strong diplomatic and legislative push in the US Congress, behind the scenes efforts are underway to prepare Liberians to return home. Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com According to the memo from Mr. Jackson George, at the Office of the Consul General of the Republic of Liberia and the Liberian Business Association in the US, a request has already been made to the Liberian Embassy in Washington, DC for the Ambassador to visit Minnesota, the state with the largest concentration of Liberians in the U.S to show the Liberian government’s support, and talk to members of the community. The Embassy is also being encouraged to create a toll-free 1-800 number to have Liberians on DED call in and leave a name and number. “The idea is to create a count of Liberians on DED in the United States. The Foreign Mission should put a plan in place to deal with the activities of ICE across the missions (New York, Atlanta, and Minnesota).” The Consul General also requested that the Foreign Ministry writes a position statement to inform Liberian nationals that the government understands the complexity of the situation and that Liberians returning home will be received with open arms. “The plan should include the expediting of passports for Liberians who are on DED, many of whom do not have passports or travel documents but are eager to return home quietly.” The Liberian Embassy in Washington is also being encouraged to find a sensitive means of informing Liberians that DED will not be renewed, which is based on high level meetings held with officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Liberians who are DED holders should avoid running afoul of the law and restrict travels outside their home states”, the memo notes. The memo continued: “Liberians with children, retirement accounts, mortgages, bank accounts and properties need to begin to establish Power of Attorneys to ensure that they are protected. The government of Liberia should begin to identify positions to place Liberians on DED and likely to return home with the skills and qualifications to ensure that undue hardship is not felt.” Minnesotans began welcoming Liberian refugees fleeing civil war in their country nearly three decades ago. They arrived under a protected temporary status. Few dreamed that war would ravage their country for nearly 15 years, followed by a prolonged rebuilding period and an Ebola epidemic in 2014. In all those years, their immigration protections were renewed regularly by Democratic and Republican presidents alike. In a late push Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, in a strongly-worded editorial headlined: “Liberians Have Earned a Right to Stay in the US”, described President Trump’s lack of response to numerous pleadings for renewal as cruel. “President Donald Trump has given no indication that he intends to follow the pattern set by Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama by granting another extension or, as much of Minnesota’s congressional delegation has sought, a path to citizenship. That is not only regrettable, it is cruel.” The newspaper’s editorial made the case that extending the legal status of Liberians, is not only a matter of compassion, but practicality. “Who benefits when thriving businesses are shuttered, needed jobs left empty and American-born children possibly left without their parents? These refugees have earned a right to stay by virtue of living, working and contributing to this country for decades, all under the legal auspices of the U.S. government.” The Liberian government has so far not yet made any comment on the matter as to what plans it has in place to prepare for Liberians on the verge of returning home. Reports from many cities across the US suggest many Liberians are living in panic and fear as the clock ticks toward the March 31, 2018 deadline. A Liberian diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity Saturday said: “The deportation of thousands of Liberians will likely cause a strain on the economy. The government is not prepared. Mr. Trump needs to understand that this is a new government. Our people need to keep calling their senators and representatives, don’t let up and be really aggressive like we did in the past. This is no joke and Trump needs to understand that Liberia and U.S relationship is different from all others. We have to bring in the devastation the Ebola caused and Liberia is just recovering. We need some cushion.” Read more
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