The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a Federal Register notice today extending and expanding Liberians’ eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and outlining how eligible Liberians may apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).
President Biden issued a memorandum on June 27 that extended and expanded DED for Liberians for another 24 months. Eligible Liberian citizens covered by DED as of June 30, 2022, may stay in the US until June 30, 2024. The president’s memorandum also postpones the expulsion of any Liberian native or someone without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, has been physically present in the United States continuously since May 20, 2017, and fulfills DED eligibility conditions.
The memorandum also extends employment permission for DED Liberia beneficiaries until June 30, 2024. For people who currently have an EAD with a Category Code of A-11 and a Card Expires date of March 30, 2020, January 10, 2021, or June 30, 2022, USCIS is automatically extending the validity of Liberian DED-related EADs until June 30, 2024. Even though their facial expiration date has past, these EADs remain valid.
DED does not have an application. Liberians who are covered by DED are permitted to work in the United States. Eligible Liberians covered by the memorandum of understanding may apply for an EAD by submitting Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Those covered by Liberian DED may be granted travel authorisation at the discretion of DHS. Individuals who seek to travel outside of the United States may do so by submitting Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
