THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release September 28, 2000
September 28, 2000
MEMORANDUM FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
SUBJECT: Measures Regarding Certain Liberians
in the United States
Over the past 10 years, many Liberians were forced to flee their country
due to civil war and widespread violence. From 1991 through 1999, we
provided Liberians in the United States with Temporary Protected Status
because of these difficulties. Although the civil war in Liberia ended in
1996 and conditions improved such that a further extension of Temporary
Protected Status was no longer warranted, the political and economic
situation continued to be fragile. On September 27, 1999, based on
compelling foreign policy reasons, I directed you to defer enforced
departure of certain Liberians in the United States for 1 year from
September 29, 1999.
There continue to be compelling foreign policy reasons not to deport these
Liberians at this time. In particular, there is a significant risk that
such a decision would cause the involuntary repatriation of many thousands
of Liberian refugees in West Africa, causing instability in Liberia and the
region.
Pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign relations of
the United States, I have determined that it is in the foreign policy
interest of the United States to defer for 1 year the deportation of any
Liberian national who is present in the United States as of September 29,
2000, except for the categories of individuals listed below.
Accordingly, I now direct you to take the necessary steps to implement for
these Liberians:
1. deferral of enforced departure from the United States for 1 year from
September 29, 2000; and
2. authorization for employment for 1 year from September 29, 2000.
This directive shall not apply to any Liberian national: (1) who is
ineligible for Temporary Protected Status for the reasons provided in
section 244(c)(2)(B) of the Immigra-tion and Nationality Act; (2) whose
removal you determine is in the interest of the United States; (3) whose
presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has
reasonable grounds to believe would have potentially serious adverse
foreign policy consequences for the United States; (4) who voluntarily
returned or returns to Liberia or his or her country of last habitual
residence outside the United States; (5) who was deported, excluded, or
removed prior to the date of this memorandum; or (6) who is subject to
extradition.
These measures shall be taken as of the date of this memorandum.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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