Whitehouse Supports Push for Protected Status for Liberians
March 6, 2009
Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Senator Jack Reed
(D-RI) and five other senators today in a letter asking President Obama
to protect Liberians living in the United States from being forced to
depart when their Deferred Enforced Departure status expires on March
31, 2009.
"Liberians who have been living in Rhode Island and around the
country for years shouldn't be forced to pack their bags in just a few
short weeks and return to a country in distress," said Whitehouse. "I
applaud Senator Reed for his leadership on behalf of the Liberian
community and join him in urging President Obama to allow these people
to remain in America with their families while we find a sensible way
to help them stay here permanently."
The full text of the letter follows:
Dear Mr. President:
We write to urge you to extend and expand Deferred Enforced Departure
for Liberians residing legally in the United States. As you know, in December
1989, Liberia was engulfed in a devastating civil war that lasted for seven years.
Over 150,000 people died and more than one-half of the population fled the
country or became internally displaced. During the conflict food production was
halted and the country's infrastructure was destroyed.
Several thousand Liberians who were forced from their homes because
of the civil war sought refuge in the United States. In 1991, Attorney
General Barr granted Liberians present in the United States Temporary
Protected Status (TPS). As the conflict in Liberia continued to rage,
successive Attorneys Generals extended TPS each year for the next six
years. In 1999, TPS was terminated, but President Clinton approved
Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and that status was extended for two
years. In 2002, Attorney General Ashcroft once again designated TPS and
this status was extended through 2007. At that time, President Bush
extended DED for Liberians who had arrived in the United States by
October 2002 and registered for TPS at that time. This DED status will
expire on March 31, 2009.
Liberia has made great strides in the past few years. Charles Taylor
is presently being tried in The Hague, and freely-elected President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is working to rebuild her country. The rebuilding
of Liberia, however, will be a long process and must be managed
carefully. Only 15% of Liberians are formally employed. As of 2006,
76.2% of Liberians lived below the poverty line. Liberia's illiteracy
rate is over 60% and only about 41% of the population have access to
health care. Thousands of refugees returning from neighboring countries
have taxed the country's fragile infrastructure and 80,000 Liberian
refugees still need to return. In addition, a caterpillar infestation
which has destroyed crops and contaminated water supplies forced
President Johnson Sirleaf to declare on January 26, 2009 a nationwide
state of emergency and request international assistance.
Liberians who have lived in the United States almost two decades
should not be forced to return to a country which is still struggling
to provide basic services to its citizens. A flood of thousands of
Liberians from the United States could easily overwhelm and reverse the
advances the nation of Liberia has made. Furthermore, Liberians in the
United States are providing invaluable financial support to Liberia
through remittances to families.
Liberia is on its way to once again becoming a stable country with a
thriving economy. But this progress must be protected. We believe the
United States needs to do all that is necessary to assist in the
reemergence of Liberia. We believe it would be very beneficial for both
countries if the Liberians living in the United States are allowed to
remain. We therefore request that the Attorney General grant Liberians
a reprieve from imminent deportation and that the class granted DED
cover all eligible Liberians, including those who arrived after October
2002.
We appreciate your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Jack Reed
Ted Kennedy
John Kerry
Barbara Mikulski
Mary Landrieu
Amy Klobuchar
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