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Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi Issues Statement on President Biden’s Extension and Expansion of the Deferred Enforced Departure Program

January 16, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, President Biden directed an extension and expansion of the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program, which would postpone the removal of certain Hong Kong residents, regardless of country of birth, who are present in the United States.

The memorandum came one day after Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party, Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to President Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing support for continued protections of Hong Kong residents under DED. 

Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi released the following statement:

“I commend President Biden for his leadership and unwavering commitment to support the people of Hong Kong in their pursuit of freedom and democracy,” said Ranking Member Krishnamoorthi. “Following the letter, I, alongside Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), sent a letter to President Biden and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing support for continued protections of Hong Kong residents under the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program, I welcome the President’s bold decision to extend and expand the program. While this is encouraging news, it is only a temporary measure, and we must now focus on enacting stronger protections for those facing repression by the Chinese Communist Party.”