Sec. 6013. Report on impact of Liberian nationals on the national security, foreign policy, and economic and humanitarian interests of the United States and a justification for adjustment of status of qualifying Liberians to that of lawful permanent residents
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Congress makes the following findings: In 1989, a seven-year civil war broke out in Liberia that— claimed the lives of an estimated 200,000 people; displaced over 1/2 of the Liberian population; halted food production; and destroyed the infrastructure and economy of Liberia. A second civil war then followed from 1999 to 2003, further destabilizing Liberia and creating more turmoil and hardship for Liberians. In total, the two civil wars in Liberia killed up to an estimated 1/4 million individuals.
From 2014 to 2016, Liberia faced an Ebola virus outbreak that devastated the fragile health system of Liberia and killed nearly 5,000 individuals. As a result of these devastating events, thousands of Liberians sought refuge in the United States, living and working here under Temporary Protected Status
(TPS)and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), extended under both Republican and Democratic administrations beginning in 1991 with the administration of President George H. W. Bush. These law-abiding and taxpaying Liberians have made homes in the United States, have worked hard, played by the rules, paid their dues, and submitted to rigorous vetting. Many such Liberians have United States citizen children who have served in the Armed Forces, and in some cases have themselves served in that capacity. The Liberian community in the United States has also contributed greatly to private sector investment and socioeconomic assistance in Liberia by providing remittances to relatives in Liberia. While there was a positive development in 2017 with the first democratic transfer of power in more than 70 years, the Department of State has identified the capital and most populous city of Liberia, Monrovia, as being a critical-threat location for crime. Access to healthcare remains limited, critical infrastructure is lacking, and widespread corruption coupled with low wages and a weak economic recovery has left the country vulnerable to civil unrest. Not later than December 31, 2019, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the impact of Liberian nationals on the national security, foreign policy, and economic, and humanitarian interests of the United States and a justification for adjustment of status of qualifying Liberians to that of lawful permanent residents. The report required by paragraph
(1)shall include the following: The number of current or former Liberian nationals and their children who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces. The amount of remittances sent by current or former Liberian nationals to relatives in Liberia and an assessment of the impact on the economic development of Liberia if these remittances were to cease. The economic and tax contributions that Liberian nationals and their children have made to the United States. An assessment of the impact on the United States of adjusting the status of Liberian nationals who have continuous physical presence in the United States beginning on November 20, 2014, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, or for adjusting the status of the spouses, children, and unmarried sons or daughters of such Liberian nationals. In this section, the term qualifying Liberian means and alien (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) ) who— is a national of Liberia; and has been continuously present in the United States during the period beginning on November 20, 2014, and ending on the date of the enactment of this Act; is the spouse, child, or unmarried son or daughter of an alien described in subparagraph (A); is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa; and is admissible to the United States for permanent residence, except that the grounds of inadmissibility specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), and (7)(A) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) ) shall not apply. The term qualifying Liberian does not include any alien who— has been convicted of any aggravated felony; has been convicted of 2 or more crimes involving moral turpitude (other than a purely political offense); or has ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. For purposes of establishing the period of continuous physical presence referred to in paragraph (1)(A)(ii), an alien shall not be considered to have failed to maintain continuous physical presence based on 1 or more absences from the United States for 1 or more periods amounting, in the aggregate, to not more than 180 days.
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Sec. 6013
Report on impact of Liberian nationals on the national security, foreign policy, and economic and humanitarian interests of the United States and a justification for adjustment of status of qualifying Liberians to that of lawful permanent residents
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