by Mameneh
I am a Liberian. I love Liberia. I am an immigrant. I am a legal resident.
Lately, there has been lots of talk on the TPS/DED status of Liberians in MN. I am deeply affected by it because it is my community and my people. After years of living in the U.S. and contributing to the communities in which they live, many Liberians on TPS/DED should be given permanent residence status. They are legal, they pay taxes, they work like every American. They have investments (homes, children, etc). We came here fleeing war and prosecution. America gave us protection. For that, we are grateful. Thank you.
Not to sound ungrateful, but Liberians on TPS/DED need your help again. It is an inconvenience to send these people home at this time. Our nation is fragile and under equipped to take such a burden. With 80% unemployment and a poor infrastructure, country cannot accommodate us. Please understand. Liberians in the U.S. are the bread wieners. Without support from families and friends here, our children cannot receive basic necessities, like education, health care and food. Our love ones cannot prosper, and our country cannot rise up.
Please gave all Liberians on TPS/DED permanenet residence status.
nekessa
Nelima
Eva
yeamyah
mameneh
IBé
minneafricanblogger
kawuma
Solange
20 responses so far ↓
nelimak // January 23, 2009 at 2:45 am
Mameneh I couldn’t agree more. The 18 month extension by the Bush government was not enough. There has definitely got to be another way to look at this TPS/DED situation. I am sure that the US governement is aware of how long it takes to rebuild a country. Seeing that President Sirleaf will be the first African president to meet with Obama I hope that she can put forward a good case for extending or altering the terms of TPS/DED.
James // January 23, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Great letter Mameneh. I think we should make this TPS situation an African one. Let’s all write a petition to have the terms altered. Let’s lobby the US govt!
Mameneh // January 25, 2009 at 3:17 pm
There are people petitioning right now and sending letters to their state officials. I agree that we should send it to the president himself. I also agree that not only Liberians should lobby, but all Africans. This could be any other African country in this situation tomorrow.
IBé // January 26, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Great issue to bring up at this hour. The guns may have been silenced, but the situation is still dire. I especially like the point you made about those Liberians living in America helping to prop up Liberia.
The other day I heard Liberia is one of the few countries seemingly immune from the global economic down town. I’m willing to bet without the remittance of Liberians in America, this picture will quickly change.
To send Liberians back to Liberia in its current state is nothing short of a crime against humanity.
Personally, I don’t think it’s ever going to happen. There is no way the US governemt (with Obama at the helm at that) is going to load thousands of Liberians with their American childrens in a plane and ship them away from the only live they have known for nearly the last twenty years. But then again, America has surprised me couple of times in the last 8 years. Good luck to us all!
Flora // January 27, 2009 at 11:59 am
Yes TPS is not only a Liberian issue. Quick question though, I know that Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Sierra Leone also have people with TPS status. Can someone explain the difference in their TPS limits if any?
Mameneh // January 27, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I don’t think there’s a different in TPS. It is the same temporary protection and it expires when it does. All I know is that when you get the status, you get a permit to work and live in the U.S. As things get better in your home country, the permit is given a certain time limit and after that, you go home. Liberians seem to get an extension because they fight for it and they do it loudly. As for how long it will work, I don’t know. Hope this time, it is permanent.
nekessa // January 27, 2009 at 11:32 pm
In a nutshell, it is highly unlikely that the 3500 Liberians on TPS will not have another DED (Deferred Enforced Departure). As Mameneh says advocates in the Liberian community have lobbied and found allies in American legislators. The entire Mn congressional delegation supports the extension of the TPS’ status and is working on changing this status into permanent residency.
Apparently, its not as easy as waving a magic wand! I am writing on this issue for the Daily Planet and Mshale, and from convos with politicians, advocates and activists, who have been lobbying legislatures, the challenge really is the long and arduous political process.
Consider this, in 1999 Hondurans and Nicaraguans and in 2001 El Salvadorians were granted TPS because of the devastation caused to their countries by a hurricane and an earthquake. Although it has been almost ten years, and all countries are on a path to recovery, their TPS status continue to be extended.
I don’t want to rewrite my whole article here, but I will link to it once its published.
African_Lawyer // January 28, 2009 at 4:56 am
Temporary Protected Status is granted to foreigners who are temporarily unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, an environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions.
During the period for which a country has been designated for TPS, TPS beneficiaries may remain in the United States and may obtain work authorization. However, TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.
African countries that are currently designated for TPS.
Burundi: The designation of Burundi for TPS has been terminated effective 12:01 a.m. May 2, 2009. To maintain TPS benefits through May 1, 2009, Burundian TPS beneficiaries must comply with re-registration requirements. Most recent TPS re-registration period was from October 29, 2007, to December 28, 2007.
Somalia: Currently designated through September 17, 2009. Most recent TPS re-registration period was from March 12, 2008, to May 12, 2008.
Sudan: Currently designated through May 2, 2010. The 60-day re-registration began August 14, 2008, and ends October 14, 2008.
Liberia currently falls under Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). President George W. Bush signed a Memorandum for the Secretary of Homeland Security on September 12, 2007, authorizing DED for 18 months (from October 1, 2007, through March 31, 2009) for Liberians (and aliens without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia) who had TPS as of September 30, 2007 following the expiration of their TPS status on October 1, 2007.
Liberians from Minnesota talk to CNN about possible deportation « MinneAfrica // February 10, 2009 at 12:47 am
[...] their status and hopefully permanent residency for others. Read previous article on TPS/DED posted here. Minnesota has the highest number of Liberians on D.E.D and thus the campaign has been very busy [...]
sandra // February 13, 2009 at 6:21 am
TPS for Burundi has been terminated, Liberians currently beg every year to stay . There is an 80 % umemployment rate there and returning right now would destablize the country. Hiati has had numerous tropical storms and their current President had asked for TPS to be granted from the former President Bush, but they were denied. However Hondurans and Nicaraguans have been granted tps again and again ever thou the conditions in their countries has because stable. I dont know is there something about south america/central america that makes the US grant them tps without them having to beg for it?
Flora // February 13, 2009 at 9:54 am
Sandra that’s an interesting observation you make about Haiti, I hadn’t looked at TPS beyond the scope of Africa. Hopefully the Liberian struggle can be the beginning of rethinking TPS.
Nagbe // February 17, 2009 at 9:06 pm
How long will Liberians in the U.S. continue to be reminded of the brutal civil war that took place in their homeland? It seems that is the case. Year to year, Liberians are uncertain of their status in the U.S. I believe total healing will take place when Liberians are not forced to remember the civil war by not knowing what would become of them year after year.
As a Liberian, I very grateful to Presidents Bush, Sr, Clinton and Bush, Jr. for protecting and granting Liberians TPS/DED. It is my believe and I am confident that President Barrack Obama will follow suit.
Etinosa // February 19, 2009 at 11:16 am
I’ve lived in the us 4 22 years all my life things were hard 4 my family 2 do things all I want 2 do is work like every other American and pay taxes and buy a home but it seems so hard I want 2 live a normal life like every one else.
An Advocate // February 19, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Thanks for raising awareness, this report highlights reasons to extend DED for Liberians
leila // February 20, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I’am a liberian who travelled to the USA in 1998, since than, i have been on tps. I started college the moment i entered the USA because i didn’t have the chance to go to college/university due to 14 year of war. I graduated from college with a degree in regestered nursing and now work at two top hospitals. I pay taxes and live the dream of any average middle American. I own a home and have an American son who feels that this is his home and this is the country where his mom will work and raise him. if i’am to be deported to liberia, i never wish to carry my son and don’t wish to leave him in a foster home. moreover, our country is just barely recovering from war where 80% of the population is unemployed. I’m presently the one sending money back home to help my family and some friends meet their basic needs. President Obama and Congress , please help us get permanent residence to enable us continue living the dream of America and to help our family, friends, and country back home to recovery.
Advocate // February 28, 2009 at 9:05 am
Guys, thanks for opening a forum for disscussion of this issue. It is my hope that President Obama will allow Liberians to become permanant residents, or at the very least, extend the DED. I know it’s quite a touchy issue since the US is facing economic difficulties and many Americans are worried about their jobs. However, I don’t believe that sending Liberians home is the answer. Except, this is just the beginning of a slew of deportations of citizens of several other countries on TPS. I’ll also like to thank those who have posted info about other Africans countries on TPS including Haiti.
Please visit LIBERIANimmigrationACT.org and use the site to email your sentators to show support for the bill that’ll allow Liberians to become permanant residents.
Nelima // February 28, 2009 at 9:55 am
I also think its great that we’re having this discussion. I’m learning so much. Thanks for sharing. I do hope that this will eventually lead to a more in depth discussion on the issue of TPS.
Amcgill // March 3, 2009 at 11:47 am
thanks for the awareness folks, I am a Liberian living in the southwest(OKC). We are all praying for the best outcome but, have anyone thought about plan “B”? LOOK into the third country agreement with CANADA. I Love America but when it comes to us African, the USA does not care, all they know God have lift Africa thousand years ago, “AND WE ARE ON OUR OWN “. I know Obama is President but cum mon, he has a lot on his plate and his citizens will come 1st.
Instead of panicking, fine other solutions.
I am a Nurse (BSN/MSN- canadate) and trying other means. If we can walk from Monrovia to the Ivory Coast as refugee with no food and water we will get tru this my friends. please check the web for viva la casa and get info for how to get refugee calim in canada.
Angie // March 4, 2009 at 1:05 am
I am responding to avocate response ( feb 28 ,2009), this is a great ideal. depending on your location in the US, you can write you congressional leaders, but I live in Oklahoma and they are not immigrant friendly. For example; the state of Oklahoma pass a law that all nurses in the state should show proof citizenship,brith certificate and other ID before practicing in thier state, no excerption. if you are not US citizen /greencard holder, or U are on TPS well “your case be done for”. I
Will apeal to all liberian in other part of the country and friends to continue to avocate for us. may be God will have mercy upon us this year.
Nagbe // March 7, 2009 at 8:51 am
I considered uncertainty another slow poison. It is a slow poison because if you do not know what is going to happen to you relative to your status, you term to worry a lot. Even though, I am a medical doctor, but I believe that worrying can create a medical problem such as high blood pressure, and many more.
I join other Liberians to appeal to the U.S. Government to help settle the Liberians live in peace, by granting them permanent status, or renew the TPS/DED.