Tag: Liberian refugees

Phillips Writes to Biden Administration Demanding Immediate Improvements to Liberian Refugee Citizenship Program as the House Takes Up Immigration Reform

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Due to significant implementation problems, only 91 Liberian DED recipients newly eligible for citizenship had applications approved in FY 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the House of Representatives takes up immigration reform this week, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) sent a letter to the heads of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) urging the Biden Administration to improve the program that provides a pathway to citizenship for Liberian refugees living in America on the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program.

The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) Act was signed into law in 2019, the culmination of a years-long effort by Minnesota’s Liberian community, Phillips, and a core group of bipartisan lawmakers. Though more than 2,300 applied in FY 2020, only 91 Liberian DED recipients had their LRIF applications successfully completed due to ongoing delays at USCIS and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“For decades, Liberian refugees have worked, owned homes, raised families, and paid taxes legally in Minnesota through the DED program with no opportunity to become citizens,” said Rep. Phillips. “Our extraordinary Liberian community, along with Republicans and Democrats in Congress, worked so hard to finally secure a pathway. We thought the hardest part of the journey was behind us, but it appears that unacceptable hurdles remain. Congress and the Biden Administration must come together to ensure that every eligible applicant for the LRIF program receives fair treatment and full transparency.”

Continue reading “Phillips Writes to Biden Administration Demanding Immediate Improvements to Liberian Refugee Citizenship Program as the House Takes Up Immigration Reform”

Rep. Phillips Leads on Legislation to Protect Liberian Refugees

As March deadline approaches, Phillips offers permanent solution for thousands of families

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) announced today that he is an original sponsor to the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, H.R. 1169, aimed at providing legal status and a pathway to citizenship for qualifying Liberian refugees. Phillips represents a large and vibrant Liberian community and has been a consistent advocate for Liberian Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders.

“Minnesota is home to the largest Liberian population in the United States, and I’m proud to represent the vast majority of them,” said Phillips. “They are our extraordinary neighbors, friends, care givers, and local business owners. Minnesota is their home. Uprooting them after decades of living and working in our community would be inhumane and would cause extraordinary disruption to our local economy. If Pres. Trump does not reverse his Executive Order, it is incumbent upon Congress to quickly ensure that our Liberian neighbors are protected from deportation.”

President Trump terminated DED by Executive Order last year. On March 31, 2019 over 4,000 Liberian DED holders, many of whom have called the United States home for more than 20 years, will become undocumented citizens and subject to deportation unless legislation is passed to protect them. Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Leads on Legislation to Protect Liberian Refugees”