WASHINGTON, DC - After more than a decade of last minute reprieves, fear of deportation and continued limbo, the status of about 10,000 Liberians who fled for their lives to the United States remains uncertain. In response, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) has reintroduced a bill to give permanent residency to the Liberians.

Since 1992, these Liberians have relied on a one-year Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Delayed Enforced Departure (DED) reprieve from the White House extending their legal right to remain in the United States. These individuals, many of whom have been in the United States since fleeing Liberia in the late 1980's and early 1990's, have retained a legal status which allows them to live, work and pay taxes in the United States but remain ineligible for the most basic benefits such as health care, food stamps and unemployment insurance.

Last year, in a shocking decision, the Bush Administration announced that it would remove TPS status for Liberians beginning October 1, 2007.

"The Administration's decision has made it even more urgent for us to ensure that Liberians receive permanent status in the United States," said Reed. "These hard-working people left their nation years ago to escape danger and economic strife, creating new lives in this country, and often raising children who know no other home than the United States. It is absolutely essential that these Liberians are given the choice to stay and eventually become citizens of the the country that has now become their home."

In an effort to ensure that these Liberians are able to remain in the United States, Reed has introduced the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, S. 656, a bill to grant permanent residency to Liberians who have lived legally in the United States since 1991.

The legislation would extend permanent residency status to Liberians originally granted protected status, beginning in 1991 by Attorney General William Barr under President George H. Bush.

Few groups which have received protected status have remained in this immigration limbo longer than the Liberians.

Last summer, Senator Reed added a successful amendment to comprehensive immigration legislation to set many Liberians in the United States on a path to citizenship. Unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached between the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives on the legislation, and it was never signed into law. Reed will again work to include this provision in comprehensive immigration legislation when it is considered by the Senate again this year.

"Liberians have made important contributions both to Rhode Island and the nation. I will continue to work with my colleagues to do all that I can to ensure that they finally receive the permanent status that they deserve," Reed concluded.