Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States over the next year, with the first group of 20 individuals scheduled to arrive on Thursday, according to officials in Monrovia. The announcement follows a bilateral agreement between the two nations, marking one of the largest such arrangements under recent U.S. immigration enforcement policies.
Liberia’s Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah confirmed the plan in a press briefing, stating that the deportees would include individuals from Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean. The government has described the arrangement as entirely humanitarian, emphasizing Liberia’s historical tradition of accepting refugees and migrants.
Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh added that Liberia has screened the list of deportees ahead of their arrival, noting that most have been identified as individuals with prior immigration violations or offenses. The deportees will be treated as guests and may apply for asylum in Liberia or leave the country at their discretion, Piah stated. Liberia will also receive U.S. support to manage the program and strengthen its migration system.
The agreement comes amid broader U.S. efforts to deport migrants to countries where they do not hold citizenship, a practice criticized by advocates who argue some deportees face risks in their home countries. Liberia’s government has not specified whether any of the arriving individuals have existing U.S. immigration court protection orders preventing their deportation.
Liberia cited its historical ties to the U.S., including its founding by freed and formerly enslaved Black Americans in the 19th century, as a basis for accepting the deportees. Officials described the move as consistent with the country’s longstanding tradition of providing refuge to those fleeing political or other crises.
The arrangement follows discussions between Liberian President Joseph Boakai and U.S. officials, including a meeting with former President Donald Trump last year. Piah denied that the agreement was part of a quid pro quo, stating that Liberia was not demanding compensation in exchange for accepting the deportees.