Liberians face deportation from U.S. (UPI)

Liberians face deportation from U.S.

Published: Feb. 10, 2009 at 3:13 PM

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Thousands of Liberians allowed into the United States under a temporary humanitarian program in the 1990s now face deportation, advocates say.

Some 14,000 Liberian nationals were allowed entry to the United States for humanitarian reasons as a bloody civil war raged through the West African nation, killing 250,000 people and displacing more than a million. But when the political situation stabilized, President George W. Bush in 2007 signed an order of "delayed enforced departure" for 3,600 Liberians who are still in the United States under temporary protection status, CNN reported.

With a March 31 deadline approaching, members of a large Liberian immigrant community in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, Minn., say they are worried about being separated from their children born in the United States, who are not covered by the order.

"We're praying that they don't send them back. But if they do, it will have a serious effect on the business," said hairdresser Seyondi Roberts.

Aba Hamilton Dolo told CNN she has nightmares and panic attacks at the prospect of being separated from her two young American-born children, begging, "Please consider what would happen to our families if we were sent home."