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In February 2010, The Advocates released the report "Liberia is Not Ready". This report highlighted reasons the United States government should extend Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians, which expired on March 31, 2010. The report argues that conditions in Liberia make forced return a dangerous and ill-advised option. Instead, the report recommends that the U.S. government act immediately to ensure Liberians are not deported.

The following is the original article we released about the report in our 2010 edition of the Observer:

Liberians Granted 18 Months; Future Uncertain

On March 19th, President Obama announced an 18-month extension of Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians in the United States. The extension keeps alive efforts by Liberians and allies, including The Advocates, to secure a path to permanent residence for Liberians in the U.S. now living under this protracted temporary protection.

Temporary protected status (TPS) was first designated for Liberians in March 1991. The U.S. has extended TPS or a similar protection from deportation, a presidential designation known as Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), continuously since that time.

The Advocates has continued to support the Liberian community in its advocacy for immigration status. In February, The Advocates and Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, released a report highlighting the reasons the United States government should extend DED for Liberians. The report, Liberia Is Not Ready 2010: A Report of Country Conditions in Liberia and Reasons the United States Should Extend Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians, helped make the case that current conditions in Liberia make forced return a dangerous and ill-advised option. The Advocates also coordinated a letter to President Obama, signed by over 50 organizations from around the United States, calling for the extension of DED to Liberians.

The Advocates is celebrating 40 years of defending human rights. Throughout this year we are sharing stories and projects from our archives to shed light on the history of the organization, and the issues we work on.