midnight marauder
23rd August 2007, 14:44
Major media doesn't seem to be reporting on this story (there's a shocker :o ), but here's some information regarding this issue:
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Learn About (Liberian) Temporary Protected Status
What Is TPS?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries (or parts thereof). In 1990 Congress established a procedure by which the Secretary of Homeland Security may provide TPS to aliens in the United States 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. TPS benefits include temporary protection against removal from the United States, as well as employment authorization, during the TPS designation period.
The Termination of TPS for Liberians in the U.S.
The United States has extended TPS to Liberians since 1990, when the armed conflict erupted in Liberia. Every year, Liberians on TPS were required to re-register for TPS, paying filing fees to renew their status and work permission. Throughout nearly two decades of protection, there have been several “re-designations” of TPS, allowing Liberians who had arrived more recently to register for the status. In September 2006, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Liberian TPS, effective October 1, 2007. Because TPS has been extended to Liberians for such a long period of time, many Liberians on TPS have established strong family, social and economic ties in the United States. The termination of TPS affects those on the status. It also affects their families, employers, and communities. Currently, the House has passed a bill extending TPS, but it has yet to pass in the Senate.
TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.
When the Secretary terminates a TPS designation, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they maintained before TPS (unless that status had since expired or been terminated) or to any other status they may have acquired while registered for TPS. Accordingly, if an alien had unlawful status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any status during the TPS designation, the alien reverts to unlawful status upon the termination of that TPS designation.
How Many Liberians Are In The U.S. and Minnesota?
The United States has extended TPS to Liberians since 1990, when the armed conflict that resulted in over 200,000 deaths erupted in Liberia. It is estimated that there are between 4,000 and 10,000 Liberians under TPS in the United States.
An estimated 25,000 Liberians live in Minnesota, one of the largest Liberian communities outside of West Africa. Many individuals who planned to come to the United States temporarily have since established their lives here due to the prolonged instability in Liberia. Many individuals have children who are United States citizens. Deciding whether to bring these children to Liberia, where they would be subjected to poverty and potentially dangerous conditions, or to leave them with family members in the United States would be a very difficult decision.
Is Liberia Sufficiently Stable to Accept the Return of Those in the U.S.?
While the United States now considers Liberia to be politically stable, there are still serious concerns with the Liberian economy. Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world and currently has an unemployment rate of 80 percent. Liberia’s new president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has raised concerns that the return of those with TPS, “would put an unbearable burden on our already strained resources”[1].
Many Liberians under temporary protected status experienced grave human rights violations while fleeing their country including witnessing executions, widespread use of child combatants, rape and sexual violence, internal and external displacement, looting and banditry. Out of a population of roughly 3 million, an estimated 250,000 people were killed, with as many as 1.5 million displaced. Some individuals with temporary protected status worry that if they return to Liberia, their enemies may harm them.
How will the termination of TPS affect Liberians in the U.S.?
* Termination of TPS will force Liberians on TPS to return to Liberia. When the Secretary terminates a TPS designation, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they acquired before or during TPS (unless that status had since expired or been terminated). Accordingly, if an alien had unlawful status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any status during the TPS designation, the alien reverts to unlawful status upon the termination of TPS.
* Termination of TPS will force Liberians on TPS to make tough choices. Because TPS has been extended to Liberians for such a long period of time, many Liberians on TPS have established strong family, social and economic ties in the United States. Many have children who are U.S. citizens and some Liberians were classified as refugees when they were admitted and were given Permanent Residency. Only those individuals on TPS would be forced to leave. This would result in the break up of many families as choices are made regarding which family members would return to Liberia, where they could be subjected to poverty and the possibility of danger from past enemies.
* Termination of TPS will have economic affects. In areas in the U.S. with a large population of Liberians, the termination of TPS may have an adverse affect on certain sectors of the economy that employ large numbers of Liberians. Many Liberians in the U.S. send remittances to family members in Liberia. Terminating their TPS Status would eliminate this source of assistance and possibly increase the problems that Liberia’s economy is facing.
What is the Status of Legislation to Provide Permanent Resident Status to Liberians?
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced S. 656, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2007, in the Senate on February 16, 2007. Co-Sponsors of the bill include: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). This legislation would allow eligible Liberians living in the United States as of January 1, 2007, to apply for lawful permanent resident status.
On April 19, 2007, Minnesota's Representative Keith Ellison joined Representative Patrick Kennedy (DFL-Rhode Island) and Representative Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) in bringing forward the Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2007 which would allow some Liberians currently in the United States under temporary protected status, to adjust their status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Without passage of such legislation, Liberians in the United States under temporary protected status will need to leave the country by October 1, 2007, or they will be considered illegally present.
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source: http://www.energyofanation.org/Learn_About...ted_Status.html (http://www.energyofanation.org/Learn_About_Temporary_Protected_Status.html)
see also: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00048f3d6a1RCRD (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=574fadb582a1e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCR D&vgnextchannel=609d3591ec04d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1 RCRD)
----------------------------------------------------
Learn About (Liberian) Temporary Protected Status
What Is TPS?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible nationals of designated countries (or parts thereof). In 1990 Congress established a procedure by which the Secretary of Homeland Security may provide TPS to aliens in the United States 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. TPS benefits include temporary protection against removal from the United States, as well as employment authorization, during the TPS designation period.
The Termination of TPS for Liberians in the U.S.
The United States has extended TPS to Liberians since 1990, when the armed conflict erupted in Liberia. Every year, Liberians on TPS were required to re-register for TPS, paying filing fees to renew their status and work permission. Throughout nearly two decades of protection, there have been several “re-designations” of TPS, allowing Liberians who had arrived more recently to register for the status. In September 2006, the Department of Homeland Security announced the termination of Liberian TPS, effective October 1, 2007. Because TPS has been extended to Liberians for such a long period of time, many Liberians on TPS have established strong family, social and economic ties in the United States. The termination of TPS affects those on the status. It also affects their families, employers, and communities. Currently, the House has passed a bill extending TPS, but it has yet to pass in the Senate.
TPS does not lead to permanent resident status.
When the Secretary terminates a TPS designation, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they maintained before TPS (unless that status had since expired or been terminated) or to any other status they may have acquired while registered for TPS. Accordingly, if an alien had unlawful status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any status during the TPS designation, the alien reverts to unlawful status upon the termination of that TPS designation.
How Many Liberians Are In The U.S. and Minnesota?
The United States has extended TPS to Liberians since 1990, when the armed conflict that resulted in over 200,000 deaths erupted in Liberia. It is estimated that there are between 4,000 and 10,000 Liberians under TPS in the United States.
An estimated 25,000 Liberians live in Minnesota, one of the largest Liberian communities outside of West Africa. Many individuals who planned to come to the United States temporarily have since established their lives here due to the prolonged instability in Liberia. Many individuals have children who are United States citizens. Deciding whether to bring these children to Liberia, where they would be subjected to poverty and potentially dangerous conditions, or to leave them with family members in the United States would be a very difficult decision.
Is Liberia Sufficiently Stable to Accept the Return of Those in the U.S.?
While the United States now considers Liberia to be politically stable, there are still serious concerns with the Liberian economy. Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world and currently has an unemployment rate of 80 percent. Liberia’s new president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has raised concerns that the return of those with TPS, “would put an unbearable burden on our already strained resources”[1].
Many Liberians under temporary protected status experienced grave human rights violations while fleeing their country including witnessing executions, widespread use of child combatants, rape and sexual violence, internal and external displacement, looting and banditry. Out of a population of roughly 3 million, an estimated 250,000 people were killed, with as many as 1.5 million displaced. Some individuals with temporary protected status worry that if they return to Liberia, their enemies may harm them.
How will the termination of TPS affect Liberians in the U.S.?
* Termination of TPS will force Liberians on TPS to return to Liberia. When the Secretary terminates a TPS designation, beneficiaries revert to the same immigration status they acquired before or during TPS (unless that status had since expired or been terminated). Accordingly, if an alien had unlawful status prior to receiving TPS and did not obtain any status during the TPS designation, the alien reverts to unlawful status upon the termination of TPS.
* Termination of TPS will force Liberians on TPS to make tough choices. Because TPS has been extended to Liberians for such a long period of time, many Liberians on TPS have established strong family, social and economic ties in the United States. Many have children who are U.S. citizens and some Liberians were classified as refugees when they were admitted and were given Permanent Residency. Only those individuals on TPS would be forced to leave. This would result in the break up of many families as choices are made regarding which family members would return to Liberia, where they could be subjected to poverty and the possibility of danger from past enemies.
* Termination of TPS will have economic affects. In areas in the U.S. with a large population of Liberians, the termination of TPS may have an adverse affect on certain sectors of the economy that employ large numbers of Liberians. Many Liberians in the U.S. send remittances to family members in Liberia. Terminating their TPS Status would eliminate this source of assistance and possibly increase the problems that Liberia’s economy is facing.
What is the Status of Legislation to Provide Permanent Resident Status to Liberians?
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced S. 656, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2007, in the Senate on February 16, 2007. Co-Sponsors of the bill include: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). This legislation would allow eligible Liberians living in the United States as of January 1, 2007, to apply for lawful permanent resident status.
On April 19, 2007, Minnesota's Representative Keith Ellison joined Representative Patrick Kennedy (DFL-Rhode Island) and Representative Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) in bringing forward the Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2007 which would allow some Liberians currently in the United States under temporary protected status, to adjust their status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Without passage of such legislation, Liberians in the United States under temporary protected status will need to leave the country by October 1, 2007, or they will be considered illegally present.
----------------------------------------------------
source: http://www.energyofanation.org/Learn_About...ted_Status.html (http://www.energyofanation.org/Learn_About_Temporary_Protected_Status.html)
see also: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00048f3d6a1RCRD (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=574fadb582a1e010VgnVCM1000000ecd190aRCR D&vgnextchannel=609d3591ec04d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1 RCRD)