Status of Liberians in the U.S.

On April 10, 2009 Her Excellency, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia was in Minnesota as part of her U.S. book tour for “This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President” published by HarperCollins Publishers. The Advocates for Human Rights and the Organization for Liberians in Minnesota held receptions for her. I attended as a guest of the International Leadership Institute and had the opportunity to take a picture with Her Excellency.

It was a wonderful event to see Liberians happy to visit with their President. A President who spent more than one year in jail at the hands of Samuel Doe's regime, and was threatened by Charles Taylor's regime. She understands what it means to be persecuted, and is clearly a great departure from the presidents that destroyed the country and had no respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Minnesota is home to the second largest settlement of Liberians outside of Africa. It was refreshing to hear the President candidly discuss the country she inherited in November 2005 and the task ahead. While the country has made strides, the President stated that it was not ready to absorb the number of Liberians that will be forced to return home if the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) they now hold in the U.S. is terminated. She applauded the Obama administration for renewing the Liberians’ status, and supported the Liberians’ wishes that they be accorded Lawful Permanent Resident status in the U.S.

Liberians are overdue for permanent resident status. Thousands of them have been in the U.S for more than 20 years on TPS. They have U.S. citizen children who have lived here all their lives; they have homes here; in short, they are part of the fabric of the U.S. For these Liberians, it does not make any rational sense for them to be returned to Liberia. Not only will that be devastating to their lives and the lives of their families; it would create a huge hole in the lives of the Americans among whom they have lived for so long. At a moment when we do not want more homes on the market, they would be forced to sell theirs; at a time when they represent huge populations in cities in Minnesota and Rhode Island, their massive departure would be devastating to the businesses they work for and own. The funds they remit to their families in Liberia have been critical for both the family members and their fragile government with limited resources to provide for its nationals.

I represent Liberians in various immigration proceedings, and have observed that the new trend for the government is to argue "changed country conditions." They argue the country has made such huge changes that it is safe for those who fled to return. That is clearly not the situation. There has to be more progress on security and stability before one can conclude that the situation has fundamentally changed. Liberians are anxious to return home; but they also realize that if care is not taken, progress could be reversed.

Peace to all people of good will.