WASHINGTON (ChatnewsTV) — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Monday that Liberians covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) can now apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) valid through June 30, 2026, under procedures outlined in a newly posted Federal Register notice.
This follows President Joe Biden’s June 28, 2024, memorandum extending DED for certain Liberians, deferring their removal until June 30, 2026. The memorandum applies to Liberians who were eligible for DED under the president’s 2022 directive and have continuously resided in the U.S. since May 20, 2017.
“Through this Federal Register notice, USCIS is automatically extending the validity of DED-related EADs,” the agency said. EADs with a Category Code of A11 and expiration dates of March 30, 2020; Jan. 10, 2021; June 30, 2022; or June 30, 2024, are automatically extended until June 30, 2026.
There is no application for DED itself, as the protection applies to Liberian nationals and individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia, based on the terms outlined in the presidential directive. The Department of Homeland Security may also provide travel authorization at its discretion. Eligible individuals seeking to travel outside the U.S. can apply by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. Those who wish to apply for work authorization can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
USCIS emphasized that it adjudicates EAD applications “fairly, humanely, and efficiently on a case-by-case basis” to ensure applicants meet the required standards. The agency also noted that efforts to reduce EAD processing times and streamline adjudications have been effective over the past year. Additional information, including fee details for DED-based EADs, is available on the USCIS website.
