A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

Although Liberians were not required to choose between TPS and other, more permanent immigration
options such as asylum or family-based immigration, in practice Liberian asylum cases often were
“administratively closed” by immigration judges or de-prioritized by overburdened Asylum Offices
because TPS was available to them. People in this position were permitted to work and to remain
in the United States, but they were unable to reunite with family members who remained outside
the United States or to secure the more permanent asylum status which leads to lawful permanent
residency and, eventually, citizenship.
Each year, Liberians on TPS were required to re-register for TPS, paying filing fees to renew their
status and work permission. In September 2006, the Department of Homeland Security announced
the termination of Liberian TPS, effective October 1, 2007. On September 12, 2007, President Bush
announced that Liberians who were registered under TPS would be permitted to remain and to work
in the United States under DED, a similar status to TPS, until March 31, 2009. On March 20, 2009,
President Obama extended DED for Liberians for an additional 12 months from March 31, 2009.
The termination of Liberian TPS caused great anxiety throughout the Liberian community in the
United States. Social workers and police officers reported increases in truancy among Liberian
students because parents kept children home out of fear they would be deported while at school. 327
One social worker reported that clients were hoarding food out of fear that their work authorization
would end. 328 After many Liberian families had experienced traumatic family separations during the
conflict, Liberians on TPS feared the same fate. One community leader stated:
[W]e have a situation where some people have been on TPS now for eighteen
years. We have families that came from Liberia with two children, they had
two children here, and they’re on TPS. The American-born children can
stay, but the Liberian-born children have to leave. 329
The termination of TPS coincided with dramatic increases in immigration enforcement generally and
with a contentious Congressional immigration debate, further exacerbating community fears. A faith
leader in the Liberian community noted that it has been “disappointing, considering the historic ties
between Liberia and the United States for Liberians to be begging to stay in the United States.” 330
The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2007, S. 656, was introduced in the Senate on
February 16, 2007. The House companion, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2007,
H.R. 1941, was introduced on April 19, 2007. This legislation, if passed, would have allowed eligible
Liberians living in the United States, to apply for lawful permanent resident status. 331
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Chapter Thirteen