Extending the Wind-Down Period for Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians

This memorandum extends the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) wind-down period for Liberian nationals from March 30, 2020 to January 10, 2021, allowing continued stay and work authorization. The extension bridges the gap until the December 20, 2020 deadline for Liberians to apply for lawful permanent resident status under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision enacted in the FY2020 NDAA.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 18849

Impact dates

Jan 10, 2021
DED wind-down period and employment authorization expires
Dec 20, 2020
Deadline for eligible Liberians to apply for adjustment of status under LRIF provision

Key directives

Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate measures to continue DED wind-down period through January 10, 2021
Secretary of Homeland Security to provide continued employment authorization through January 10, 2021
Secretary of Homeland Security to publish memorandum in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

DED wind-down period extended through January 10, 2021
Continued employment authorization through January 10, 2021

Near term (90d)

Liberian DED beneficiaries must apply for LPR status under LRIF by December 20, 2020

Long term

Potential permanent resolution if beneficiaries successfully adjust status to LPR

Risks & tensions

Gap risk: LRIF application deadline (December 20, 2020) precedes DED extension expiration (January 10, 2021) by only 21 days, leaving minimal buffer for processing delays
Employment authorization gap for those who miss LRIF deadline or face application denials
Seven exclusion categories create enforcement discretion that could affect individual beneficiaries unpredictably
Congressional inaction on broader legislative relief noted as original rationale for prior extensions