The United States House of Representative on Monday, July 30, 2007 passed Bill HR-3123, granting Liberians on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) another year to remain in the U.S and work. The House bill will ease the worries of the five thousand plus Liberians that would have been asked to leave the U.S. come October 1, 2007 when the presidential DED expires. However, the Senate needs to pass similar bi-partism bill for it to become law.

Find below the text of the bill:

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, 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

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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.

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