On Dec. 20., an important and lifesaving program that provides green cards and a path to citizenship to many Liberians in America will expire. This program is called the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act, also commonly known as LRIF. It closes on Dec. 20th, despite the fact that thousands of Liberians in the U.S. still qualify for the program and have not been able to apply, due, in large part, to well-documented problems with the way that USCIS has implemented it.
The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (LRIF) offers green cards and a path to citizenship to Liberians who have been in the U.S. since at least Nov. 20, 2014, whether they have a temporary immigration status like TPS or DED, or even if they are undocumented.
LRIF is the first legalization bill to pass Congress in decades, after many years of advocacy directly from the Liberian community and from Black-led immigrant organizations. LRIF is one of the only pieces of legislation to directly affect Black immigrants.
While an estimated 10,000 Liberians in the U.S. may be eligible for LRIF, only about 3,500 have applied and less than 1,000 have been approved. USCIS has not made it easy to apply for LRIF, requiring in-person interviews, changing ID requirements and delaying decisions on applications for long periods. While the looming deadline is the biggest hurdle, other barriers for applicants have included:
- The cost of applications and legal fees- further exacerbated by the pandemic
- Most if not all people applying for fee waivers are being denied, and USCIS has not offered any explanation or relief.
- Concern about criminal bars in the Act.
- Long application processing times.
- Unclear and changing requirements for documentation in the application.
The deadline imposed on LRIF applicants is arbitrary.
The number of people who are eligible for LRIF is not changing. The UndocuBlack Network in partnership with other Black-led immigrants’ rights organizations is asking the question: why cut eligible Liberians off with an application sunset date if those who qualify, and the eligible population is static and will not increase?
People who are eligible should have time to save the funds, get legal help and prepare successful applications.
The deadline to apply for LRIF is fast approaching on Dec 20, 2021, and we encourage eligible Liberians to apply. Here is a video featuring the Liberian singer Nu Kru to sound the alarm loud and clear about the importance of LRIF and the approaching deadline.
For more information on LRIF and any assistance with your application fee and finding low and free Bono lawyers visit LRIF Resource Hub Full Website URL: https://undocublack.org/lrif
