President Obama has not yet extended the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberians, official sources from the offices of 9 US representatives and 3 senators told The Liberian Journal (TLJ).
Some Liberians began celebrating premature news postings from some ULAA officials that President Obama extended DED for Liberians yesterday. Our investigation has revealed that Michael Wreh, a long-time immigration activist, was behind the misinformation campaign being circulated on the Liberian listservs and chatrooms.
“It is very dangerous for people to circulate these misinformation without verifying their sources. These actions could affect the very Liberians— whose employers might request inquiries from lawmakers’ offices and pro-immigrant advocacy groups–only to be told that DED is not renewed for another term [year] “, a staff of Rep. Keith Ellison office said. This situation could raise doubts in the minds of employers about statements from their Liberian employees”.
Another source from a Minnesota US Senator office, in a rather sarcastic tone, told TLJ, “Maybe these Liberian immigration advocates and community leaders know more than we do on this issue. But as far as we are concerned DED for Liberians has not been extended as of this moment”.
Many Liberians have called the offices of The Liberian Journal to confirm news about the extension of DED for Liberians. “I have already told my employer that DED has been renewed and I just wanted to get a copy of the letter from President Obama’s office”, a caller told the editors at The Liberian Journal.
Leaders of major advocacy organizations, including the Advocates for Human Rights, are confused as to how a handful of Liberians confirmed that President Obama extended or renewed DED for Liberians.
Hon. Emmanuel Wettee, former President of ULAA, who is widely respected and celebrated for his outstanding works on Liberian immigration issues, told The Liberian Journal in an exclusive interview that all major actors he dealt with in the past, including the State Department, Senator Jack Reed office, and the Liberian Embassy in Washington DC, could not understand how few Liberians circulated news about the renewal of DED with any official stamp or confirmation.
Many attribute these misinformation campaigns to the political posturings and point-scoring in the divided ULAA politics, all of which has hardened the disdain and contempt Liberians have for what is now an organization holding out a mere shadow of its true self.
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