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 WASHINGTON – African Communities Together and UndocuBlack Network, along with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Lawyers for Civil Rights, applaud the provision in the National Defense Authorization Act that allows eligible Liberians to gain permanent residency in the United States. We lift up the courageous leadership of Liberian immigrants with Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure and their communities and families who have bravely spoken up and advocated for permanent status for over 20 years. 

We sincerely thank and applaud Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) for their steadfast support of the Liberian community across the country. This provision, modeled after Senator Reed’s Liberian Refugee and Immigrant Fairness Act, is a major victory for Liberians who have been living in the U.S. on temporary status, some for over 20 years. Permanent status will afford these Liberians, their families, and their communities the certainty, stability, and security that their temporary status has not provided.