<div class="xtend"><a id="pl.1.1"></a><var>1.1</var>A resolution<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>memorializing Congress to create a path toward lawful permanent resident status for <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>Liberians with temporary protected status and to extend temporary protected status <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>until a permanent solution is enacted.<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota is home to Liberians who sought safety in the United <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>States from the brutal armed conflict in their homeland; and <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>WHEREAS, many of the Liberians living in Minnesota are lawfully here in the United <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>States under Temporary Protected Status, which has been afforded to citizens of Liberia since the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>outbreak of the conflict in 1991; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>WHEREAS, Temporary Protected Status terminated on October 1, 2007, and most <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>Liberians residing in the United States now have a status of Deferred Enforced Departure, which <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>will terminate on March 31, 2009; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>WHEREAS, upon the termination of Deferred Enforced Departure, Liberians who have <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>held this status will be subject to deportation from the United States, often without regard to the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>family, property, or careers they leave behind in the United States; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>WHEREAS, the political and human rights situation in Liberia, although improved since <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>the time of the civil conflict, remains unclear as the new Liberian government transitions to <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>democracy; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>WHEREAS, much of the infrastructure of Liberia has been destroyed as a result of the <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>conflict, leaving Liberians without running water, electricity, access to basic health care, and with <br />
         		<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>a national unemployment rate of 85 percent; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>WHEREAS, the police and judicial systems in Liberia are in the early stages of rebuilding <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>following the conflict and the regime of Charles Taylor; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>WHEREAS, Senate File 656, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 2007, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>was introduced in the United States Senate on February 16, 2007; the United States House of <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>Representatives companion, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Protection Act of 2007, H.R. <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>1941, was introduced on April 19, 2007; and passage of this legislation would allow eligible <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>Liberians living in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident status; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>WHEREAS, on July 30, 2007, the United States House of Representatives approved H.R. <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>3123, which grants a one-year extension of Temporary Protected Status, and its companion <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>is S.1903; and<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>WHEREAS, the termination of Temporary Protected Status may endanger the lives, safety, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>and well-being of Liberians living in the State of Minnesota; NOW, THEREFORE,<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it encourages the <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>United States Congress to act speedily to grant the extension of Temporary Protected Status <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>until a permanent solution is enacted.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota urges <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress to prioritize the debate and enactment of <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>legislation allowing Liberians living in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>status.<br />
         		<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>directed to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>States, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>the United States House of Representatives, the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>the chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives <br />
         		<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>in Congress.<br />
         		
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