On Jan. 20, 2021, President Biden issued a memorandum directing the secretary of Homeland Security to reinstate Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for eligible Liberians and to provide for continued work authorization through June 30, 2022.
Eligible Liberian nationals (and persons without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia) covered under DED as of Jan. 10, 2021, may remain in the United States through June 30, 2022. We will automatically extend employment authorization documents (EADs) with a March 30, 2020, or Jan. 10, 2021, facial expiration date through June 30, 2022, for eligible individuals covered under DED for Liberians. A notice in the Federal Register has information on this automatic extension and instructions on how they can obtain new EADs if they so desire.
Reinstating DED for Liberians will allow additional time for eligible Liberians to apply for adjustment of status on or before Dec. 20, 2021, under the extension of the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision. Liberians who apply for adjustment of status under LRIF may immediately apply for employment authorization consistent with that provision. Individuals who applied for LRIF but were denied are not covered under this DED extension.
DED is in the president’s discretion to authorize as part of his constitutional power to conduct foreign relations. Although DED is not a specific immigration status, individuals covered by DED are not subject to removal from the United States, usually for a designated period of time.
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