SCHOOLS, BUT NOT ENOUGH VOTES
FOR ANY BILL THAT IMPOSES NEW
GUN RESTRICTIONS.
A DEADLINE IS QUICKLY
APPROACH THAT COULD SEND
THOUSANDS OF LIBERIANS LIVING
IN MINNESOTA BACK TO WEST
AFRICA.
A DEPORTATION PROTECTION
PROGRAM EXPIRES THIS SATURDAY.
SO TODAY HUNDREDS OF LIBERIAN
IMMIGRANTS HELD A RALLY AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
ORGANIZERS HAVE REACHED OUT TO
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO URGE
PRESIDENT TRUMP TO EXTEND
DEFERRED ENFORCED DEPARTURE.
ABOUT 30,000 LIBERIAN
IMMIGRANTS LIVE IN MINNESOTA.
THE PROGRAM AFFECTS ABOUT 4,000
OF THEM WHO ARRIVED IN THE U.S.
UNDER A TEMPORARY PROTECTED
STATUS.
Reporter: THEY FILLED THE
THIRD FLOOR OF THE MINNESOTA
STATE CAPITOL BEFORE HEADING
OUTSIDE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO AN
URGENT PLEA.
WE WANT PRESIDENT TRUMP TO
HELP EXTEND IT FOR LIBERIA.
PRESIDENT BUSH DID IT.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA DID IT.
NOW I HOPE PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES
THE SAME.
Reporter: PREVIOUS
PRESIDENTS HAVE CHOSEN TO
EXTEND IT, ALLOWING LIBERIAN
IMMIGRANTS TO MAINTAIN LEGAL
STATUS IN THE U.S. AND GRANTING
THEM WORK PERMITS.
[ CHANTING ]
Reporter: BUT THIS SATURDAY
THAT COULD ALL CHANGE.
YEAH.
THAT MEANS THEY WILL NOT BE
GOING TO JOBS.
THAT MEANS THEY CANNOT DRIVE.
IF THEY ARE ARRESTED, THEY CAN
BE DE-- BE DEPORTED.
Reporter: WHEN A CIVIL WAR
BROKE OPEN IN LIBERIA ALMOST 30
YEARS AGO THOUSANDS OF THE
RESIDENTS FLED TO THE U.S.
MANY ENTERED THE WORK FORCE IN
THE TWIN CITIES.
LOTS OF THEM FOUND JOBS IN
HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES.
IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
Reporter: THEY WORRY
CHILDREN BORN IN THE U.S. COULD
BE SENT TO LIVE WITH FAMILY
FRIENDS OR PLACED IN FOSTER
CARE IF THEIR PARENTS ARE
DEPORTED.
THE FAMILIES SHOULDN'T BE
SEPARATED.
SO WE ARE APPEALING TO THE
PRESIDENT TO PLEASE EXTEND IT.
THOSE AFFECTED BY THE
EXPIRATION OF THE PROGRAM SAY
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO
BECOME U.S. CITIZENS BECAUSE
THE PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP IS
LIMITED AND COMPLICATED.
