President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered an end to special legal
status for certain immigrants from Liberia, including some who have
lived in the United States for decades, effective next year, citing
improved conditions in the West African nation.
“Liberia is no longer experiencing armed conflict and has made
significant progress in restoring stability and democratic governance,” according to a memorandum signed by Trump and released by the White House.
Trump has pursued a crackdown on legal and illegal immigration since becoming president last year.
Some Liberians have been eligible for either Temporary Protected
Status or Deferred Enforced Departure since March 1991 due to civil war,
fragile political and economic conditions and an Ebola virus outbreak
in 2014, the memorandum said. The special status will end on March 31,
2019.
“Liberia has also concluded reconstruction from prior
conflicts, which has contributed significantly to an environment that is
able to handle adequately the return of its nationals,” Trump said.
“The 2014 outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease caused a tragic loss
of life and economic damage to the country, but Liberia has made
tremendous progress in its ability to diagnose and contain future
outbreaks of the disease,” Trump added.
A 12-month “wind-down” period starting March 31, 2018, will allow
the Liberian government to prepare to re-integrate returning citizens
and give time for affected Liberians to “make necessary arrangements,” said the memorandum, which was addressed to the Department of Homeland Security.