COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE DONALD M. PAYNE, JR. SUPPORTS RALLY OPPOSING THE DEPORTATION OF LIBERIAN REFUGEES LEGALLY LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES

Councilman Payne will give petition protesting the deportation to Congressman Donald M. Payne for delivery to Washington, D.C.  
 
March 12, 2009 (Newark) – In an effort to highlight the plight of more than 14,000 Liberian children and adults facing deportation from the United States if their refugee status is not changed, Newark Councilman-at-Large Donald M. Payne, Jr. will attend and support a rally being co-sponsored by Concerned Citizens for Humanity, USA, The African Commission, and the Africana Institute of Essex County College. The rally will be held in two parts, with the first being held in Newark Monday, March 16 at 12 noon at the Martin Luther King Building, 50 Walnut St.
 
The affected Liberian refugees—including thousands of U.S. born children that will potentially be separated from their Liberian-born parents—are facing deportation when their deferred enforced departure (DED) status expires on March 31, 2009. DED status gave the refugees temporary protected status (TPS) that is now set to expire. A number of high-profile members of Congress have also shown their support for extending the DED, and have written letters to President Barack Obama urging him direct the Attorney General to grant Liberians residing legally in the United States a reprieve from imminent deportation.
 
“This is one of the least publicized tragedies of our complex immigration system,” said Councilman Payne.  “Our nation must change the immigration status of these displaced families so they can become permanent residents of the United States.  It’s truly ironic that these Liberians were given this temporary status in the first place since Liberia was settled by American blacks and the country has such strong ties to the United States.”

 
During the rally, Councilman Payne will present U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne with a petition with tens of thousands of signatures, requesting that Congressman Payne deliver the petition to Washington, D.C.  A second rally will be held in Washington on Thursday, March 26.

 

“A large number of these refugees are making major contributions to the United States in such areas as health care, education, information technology and the sciences,” said Michael Gray, president of Concerned Citizens for Humanity, USA.  “Deportation of Liberians from the U.S. will result in the separation of many Liberians from their U.S. born children and overwhelm the country’s inadequate infrastructure,” said Gray.