The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation of Liberia , which will remain active through October 1, 2007.  In the coming days, a Federal Register Notice will be published, describing the decision in greater detail and set forth the procedures for reregistering for benefits until the effective termination date.  This decision has an effect on approximately 3,600 Liberian nationals who currently receive benefits under the TPS designation for Liberia .  

Once the TPS designation is no longer in effect on October 2, 2007, former TPS beneficiaries return to the same immigration status they held before registering for TPS, or to any other status they may have acquired while registered for TPS.  If an individual did not have a lawful immigration status at the time of receipt of TPS benefits, he or she will revert to being without lawful status upon the termination of TPS designation for Liberia ; these individuals are expected to depart the U.S. on or before October 1, 2007.  Persons who fail to comply are subject to removal.  

The new TPS designation for Liberia does not affect pending applications for other forms of immigration relief or protection.  However, former TPS beneficiaries will be deemed in  "unlawful presence" as of October 2, 2007 if they have not been granted any other immigration status or protection.  Individuals who accrue this unlawful designation may be barred from admission to the United States and become ineligible for certain immigration benefits for a specified period of time.