U.S. CitizenshipThe country in which a person is born (and has not renounced or lost citizenship) or naturalized and to which that person owes allegiance and by which he or she is entitled to be protected. and Immigration Services (USCIS)  announced its intention to automatically extend employment authorization for Liberian nationals covered under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) through March 31, 2012. USCIS’s announcement follows President Obama’s announcement of his decision to extend DED through March 31, 2013, for qualified Liberians and those persons without nationalityThe country of a person’s citizenship or country in which the person is deemed a nationalA person owing permanent allegiance to a state. who last habitually resided in Liberia. The six-month automatic extension of existing Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) will permit eligible Liberians to continue working while they file their applications for new EADs. The new EADs will cover the full 18 months of the DED extension.

Certain individuals are not eligible for DED, including:

• Liberians who did not have Temporary Protected StatusEstablishes a legislative basis for allowing a group of persons temporary refuge in the United States. Under a provision of the Immigration Act of 1990, the Attorney General may designate nationals of a foreign state to be eligible for TPSEstablishes a legislative basis for allowing a group of persons temporary refuge in the United States. Under a provision of the Immigration Act of 1990, the Attorney General may designate nationals of a foreign state to be eligible for TPS with a finding that conditions in that country pose a danger to personal safety due to ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster. Grants of TPS are initially made for periods of 6 to 18 months and may be extended depending on the situation. RemovalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. proceedings are suspended against aliens while they are in Temporary Protected Status. with a finding that conditions in that country pose a danger to personal safety due to ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster. Grants of TPSEstablishes a legislative basis for allowing a group of persons temporary refuge in the United States. Under a provision of the Immigration Act of 1990, the Attorney General may designate nationals of a foreign state to be eligible for TPS with a finding that conditions in that country pose a danger to personal safety due to ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster. Grants of TPS are initially made for periods of 6 to 18 months and may be extended depending on the situation. RemovalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. proceedings are suspended against aliens while they are in Temporary Protected Status. are initially made for periods of 6 to 18 months and may be extended depending on the situation. RemovalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. proceedings are suspended against aliens while they are in Temporary Protected Status. (TPSEstablishes a legislative basis for allowing a group of persons temporary refuge in the United States. Under a provision of the Immigration Act of 1990, the Attorney General may designate nationals of a foreign state to be eligible for TPS with a finding that conditions in that country pose a danger to personal safety due to ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster. Grants of TPS are initially made for periods of 6 to 18 months and may be extended depending on the situation. RemovalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. proceedings are suspended against aliens while they are in Temporary Protected Status.) on Sept. 30, 2007 and are therefore not covered under current DED;
• Certain criminals (e.g. aggravated felons and persons convicted of two misdemeanors);
• Persons subject to the mandatory bars to TPSEstablishes a legislative basis for allowing a group of persons temporary refuge in the United States. Under a provision of the Immigration Act of 1990, the Attorney General may designate nationals of a foreign state to be eligible for TPS with a finding that conditions in that country pose a danger to personal safety due to ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster. Grants of TPS are initially made for periods of 6 to 18 months and may be extended depending on the situation. RemovalThe expulsion of an alien from the United States. This expulsion may be based on grounds of inadmissibility or deportability. proceedings are suspended against aliens while they are in Temporary Protected Status.; and
• Other ineligibleImmigration law says that certain conditions and actions prevent a person from entering the United States. These conditions and activities are called ineligibilities, and the applicant is ineligible for (cannot get) a visa. Examples are selling drugs, active tuberculosis, being a terrorist, and using fraud to get a visa. Read the Department of State web site information on the Classes of Aliens Ineligible to Receive Visas to learn more. persons as described in the President’s memorandum.

In addition to automatically extending the validity of EADs for Liberian nationals covered under DED, USCIS will publish a notice in the Federal Register with instructions for these individuals on how to obtain employment authorization for the remainder of the DED extension. Liberian nationals covered under DED will also need to include the Application for Employment Authorization, I-765, and a filing fee of $380, or a fee waiver request.

For additional information about DED for Liberia, please visit the DED- Liberia Web page on the USCIS Website.