USCIS Extends & Expands Work Authorization for Liberians under DED — What to Do Now

USCIS has implemented the President’s June 28, 2024 memorandum extending Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for eligible Liberians through June 30, 2026 and providing continued employment authorization for the same period. This covers Liberian nationals (and certain stateless individuals who last habitually resided in Liberia) who were eligible under the 2022 DED memorandum and have been continuously present in the U.S. since May 20, 2017.

Automatic EAD extension (no new card required to keep working)
USCIS’s Federal Register notice automatically extends DED-based EADs with Category (a)(11) and a “Card Expires” date of Mar. 30, 2020; Jan. 10, 2021; Jun. 30, 2022; or Jun. 30, 2024. These cards are valid through Jun. 30, 2026, even if the printed date has passed. Show your employer the EAD and the Federal Register notice language for Form I-9.

Who is covered & key exclusions
DED is not a status you apply for; it’s a presidential deferral of removal. Covered Liberians are authorized to work incident to DED, subject to exclusions (e.g., certain criminal/security grounds, extensive return travel, or LRIF-ineligible determinations). Check USCIS’s DED-Liberia page for eligibility details and updates.
You may file Form I-765 for a replacement/renewal DED EAD valid to Jun. 30, 2026. Follow the instructions in the Federal Register notice (filing category (a)(11)), include identity and DED eligibility evidence, and monitor your USCIS account for biometrics or RFEs.

I-9 and hiring tips for employers
EADs extended by this notice remain acceptable List A documents. Employers must not demand extra proof beyond what the I-9 rules allow. E-Verify has also posted guidance recognizing the DED-Liberia extension through Jun. 30, 2026.

Bottom line
If you hold a DED-Liberia (a)(11) EAD with one of the listed expiration dates, you’re work-authorized through June 30, 2026. Consider filing for a new card for convenience, but it isn’t required to keep working. Use USCIS’s Liberia DED and Federal Register pages as your source of truth for documentation and next steps.