? 
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- Resolving Differences
- ng Differences
- To President
- Became Law
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, included a major victory for the Liberian community in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 that will extend legal status for thousands of Liberians.
Senator Reed included a provision in the NDAA backed by Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) and the rest of the Rhode Island delegation, to allow eligible Liberians in the U.S. currently on the temporary immigration status of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to continue living legally in the U.S. and get on a pathway to earning U.S. citizenship. In order to be eligible to apply for permanent residency under the law, applicants must have been living in the U.S. continuously since November 20, 2014, not been absent for more than 180 days in aggregate, and be otherwise eligible and admissible for permanent residence.
The NDAA provision was based on S. 456, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, which Senator Reed introduced in the U.S. Senate. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced companion legislation (H.R.1169) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The legislation is estimated to impact about 4,000 Liberians who have been legally living in the United States.
“After decades of uncertainty, this is a huge win for my Liberian brothers and sisters and a great day for America. This provision will adjust the status of Liberians on DED and those formerly on TPS to enable them to apply for permanent residency. Liberians who’ve legally lived here for years, paid taxes, and made so many positive contributions to their various communities, especially in Rhode Island, deserve the opportunity to get on a path to becoming full citizens. Everything they have in America they’ve earned through hard work and hard work should be rewarded,” said Senator Reed. “Theseip