Washington, D.C. - The US House of Representative has passed bill HR-3123, granting Liberians on TPS additional one year to still and work in the United States. The bi-partism bill passed late Monday evening, could halt the deportation of nearly five thousand Liberians come October 1, when the current presidential DED expires. But the bill still needs a Senate blessing to become a reality. More details will follow shortly

Please see text of the Bill, HR 3123 below

HR 3123 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3123

To extend the designation of Liberia under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act so that Liberians can continue to be eligible for temporary protected status under that section.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2007

Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. WALBERG, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. PENCE, Mr. LANGEVIN, and Mr. BLUNT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To extend the designation of Liberia under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act so that Liberians can continue to be eligible for temporary protected status under that section.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF DESIGNATION.

(a) In General- The designation of Liberia under section 244(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)) is extended through September 30, 2008.

(b) Applicability- Subsection (a) shall be applied so as to render eligible for temporary protected status and work authorization, in accordance with subsections (a), (e) and (f) of section 244 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1254a), an alien who is a national of Liberia (or in the case of an alien having no nationality, is a person who last habitually resided in Liberia) and is otherwise eligible under subsection (c) of such section, if the alien--

(1) was granted such status under the designation of Liberia that is effective until October 1, 2007 (71 Fed. Reg. 55000);

(2) applied for such status under such designation, and such application is still pending; or

(3) is eligible for late initial registration under section 244(c) of such Act and the regulations implementing such section.

(c) Requirements- Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall publish in the Federal Register procedures for aliens to register for temporary protected status under the extension made by this Act, and to apply for any applicable work authorization or extension of work authorization. Such registration period shall be not less than 60 days long.

(d) Extension of Current Work Authorizations- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any work authorization provided under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act pursuant to the designation of Liberia that is effective until October 1, 2007, is extended until not earlier than April 1, 2008.