US President Bill Clifton has issued a one-year reprieve from deportation for Liberian refugees in the United States, according to a White House statement.
In a memorandum to the attorney general and the Immigration and
Naturalization Service, Clinton said there were compelling foreign policy reasons not to deport the Liberians at this time.
"In particular, I am concerned that a decision by our government to deport Liberians who have enjoyed the protection of our country for many years could cause governments in West Africa to deport many thousands of Liberians in their own countries," he said.
A complementary measure to the deferral allows the Liberians to work for one year from 29 September, the day on which they were to have been deported.
AFP reports that up to 15,000 Liberians have been living in the United States under a temporary protected status programme.
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