The United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson has announced his decision to designate Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months effective today owning to the Ebola outbreak in the three countries, a press release from the US immigration services (USCIS).
This is the same status under which many Liberians were allowed to stay in the world’s most advanced country during the civil war and later became US citizens.
The statement says “eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone who are currently residing in the United States may apply for TPS”.
This means that citizens from the three Ebola-hit countries will not be deported even when they overstay their visas and will be “authorized to work and obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)” which people on visitors’ visa are usually not allowed to do.
However people “with certain criminal records or who pose a threat to national security are not eligible for TPS”.
© Politico 21/11/14
