WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today applauded President Obama's decision to extend Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for qualified people from Liberia through September 30, 2014.  This will allow Liberians who fled their country’s bloody civil war many years ago and have been legally living in the United States to stay another 18 months.  If the President had not approved the extension, many Liberians could have been eligible to be deported on March 31st, when a previous extension of their temporary immigration status was set to expire.

Liberians living in the United States who received this DED extension fled a country engulfed in bloody civil war and many built new lives in Rhode Island, having children, starting businesses, buying homes, and paying U.S. taxes.

"I am pleased the President is extending this welcome to eligible Liberian families for another 18 months. This is good news that will let many families in our communities breathe a sigh of relief.  Liberians are making many important contributions to Rhode Island and our nation.  They are working hard, playing by the rules, and paying U.S. taxes.  Many have children who are U.S. citizens, some who have served in our military.  This temporary extension will prevent their families from being torn apart,” said Senator Reed, who led the effort urging President Obama to lift the March 31st deadline to prevent these Liberians from being deported. 

“But we need a long-term solution that allows them to get on a pathway to citizenship and that is why I authored the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (S. 572),” stated Reed, who has worked for over a decade to pursue a fair pathway to citizenship for Liberians who came to the United States seeking humanitarian relief.

Since 1991, thousands of Liberians have relied on Temporary Protected Status or DED being granted by Republican and Democratic Presidents to extend their legal right to remain in the United States.  Liberians have been living, working, and paying taxes in the United States, but have been ineligible for the benefits afforded to other taxpayers.

Senator Reed noted two fallen Rhode Island heroes who came from Liberia and both gave their lives in the line of duty last year: Lance Corporal Abraham Tarwoe and Providence Police Sergeant Maxwell R. Dorley.

On April 12, 2012, Lance Corporal Abraham Tarwoe was killed while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.  When he was about 7 years old, Tarwoe was among the thousands of Liberians who came to the United States seeking safety from the civil war.

“Lance Corporal Tarwoe, who was born in Liberia and came as a child to Rhode Island, demonstrates to us all that being an American is about what is in your heart, not necessarily where you were born.  It is about believing in America--believing so much that you would give your life to defend the values that we so cherish,” noted Reed.

Sergeant Dorley's personal story, which also began in Liberia, is another example of the extraordinary contributions of the Liberian community to the state of Rhode Island.  At the young age of 7, Sergeant Dorley came with his aunt, Hawa Vincent, to Providence, beginning his own chapter of the American dream.  He attended Mount Pleasant High School, and not only graduated at the top of his class earning admission to Brown University, but he also befriended Kou, who later became his wife.  His love and devotion to his family was so deep and genuine that when their first child, Amanda, was on her way, Sergeant Dorley declined admission to Brown University and began working four jobs so he could support his new family.

“Sergeant Dorley thought about others before he thought of himself,” stated Reed.  “His example of hard work -- four jobs to support the family -- is the story of America, coming here from someplace else, working as hard as you can to build a strong family and contribute to a strong community.  From helping his family to gathering old and used police uniforms for his fellow police officers in Liberia, Sergeant Dorley exemplified the best of what we expect from our public servants: a deep commitment to serving others for the greater good.”

On April 19, 2012, Sergeant Dorley was killed in the line of duty as he was driving to the aid of his fellow Providence Police Officers, who were trying to break up a fight.

“We must honor the service and sacrifice of men and women like Lance Corporal Abraham Tarwoe and Sergeant Maxwell R. Dorley.  We need to fix our immigration laws and provide a path to citizenship for eligible Liberians who call America home,” concluded Reed.