June 28, 2024

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
SUBJECT:

Extending Eligibility for Deferred Enforced
Departure for Liberians

Since 1991, the United States has provided safe haven for
Liberians who were forced to flee their country as a result of
armed conflict and widespread civil strife, in part through the
grant of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced
Departure (DED).
In December 2019, the Congress enacted the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92)
(NDAA), which included, as section 7611, the Liberian Refugee
Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision. The LRIF provision, with
limited exceptions, makes Liberians who have been continuously
present in the United States since November 20, 2014, as well as
their spouses and children, eligible for adjustment of status to
that of lawful permanent resident (LPR). The NDAA gave eligible
Liberian nationals until December 20, 2020, to apply for this
adjustment of status. After the enactment of the LRIF provision,
President Trump further extended the DED transition period
through January 10, 2021, to ensure that DED beneficiaries would
continue to be eligible for employment authorization during the
LRIF application period.
The LRIF application process was new and complex, resulting in
some procedural and administrative challenges. Recognizing these
difficulties, the Congress enacted a 1-year extension to the
application period in section 901 of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260). That legislation,
however, did not provide for continued employment authorization
past January 10, 2021. Through my memorandum of January 20, 2021
(Reinstating Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians), DED was
subsequently reinstated through June 30, 2022, in order to
permit employment authorization for eligible Liberians while

2
they made their applications for adjustment of status under the
LRIF provision. My memorandum of June 27, 2022 (Extending and
Expanding Eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure for
Liberians) (2022 Memorandum), further authorized an extension of
DED for 24 months, ending June 30, 2024, and expanded
eligibility to those Liberian nationals, or persons without
nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, who had been
continuously physically present in the United States since May
20, 2017.
There are compelling foreign policy reasons to extend DED for
those Liberians who have been continuously present in the United
States since May 20, 2017, and were eligible for DED under the
2022 Memorandum. Providing protection from removal and work
authorization to these Liberians, for whom we have long
authorized TPS or DED in the United States, honors the historic
close relationship between the United States and Liberia and is
in the foreign policy interests of the United States.
Pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign
relations of the United States, I have determined that it is in
the foreign policy interests of the United States to extend
through June 30, 2026, deferred removal for those Liberians
already under a grant of DED under the 2022 Memorandum. I have
also determined that these Liberian nationals should have
continued employment authorization through June 30, 2026.
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall promptly direct the
appropriate officials to make provision, by means of a notice
published in the Federal Register, for immediate allowance of
employment authorization and prompt issuance of new or
replacement employment authorization documents in appropriate
cases for covered Liberians.
This grant of DED and continued employment authorization shall
apply to any person who was eligible for a grant of DED under
the 2022 Memorandum, to include any Liberian national, or person
without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, who
has been continuously physically present in the United States
since May 20, 2017, but shall not apply to such persons in the
following categories:
(1) individuals who would be ineligible for TPS for the
reasons provided in section 244(c)(2)(B) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B);

3
(2) individuals who sought or seek LPR status under the
LRIF provision but whose applications have been or are
denied by the Secretary of Homeland Security due to
ineligibility for the LRIF provision under sections
7611(b)(1)(C) and (b)(3) of the NDAA;
(3) individuals whose removal the Secretary of Homeland
Security determines is in the interest of the United
States, subject to the LRIF provision;
(4) individuals whose presence or activities in the United
States the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to
believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign
policy consequences for the United States;
(5) individuals who have voluntarily returned to Liberia or
their country of last habitual residence outside the United
States for an aggregate period of 180 days or more, as
specified in subsection (c)(2) of the LRIF provision; or
(6) individuals who are subject to extradition.
Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security
to take the necessary steps to implement for eligible Liberians:
(1) a deferral of enforced departure from the United States
through June 30, 2026, effective immediately; and
(2) authorization for employment valid through June 30,
2026.
The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and directed to
publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
[FR Doc. 2024-14756 Filed: 7/2/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/3/2024]