Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 foreigners deported from the United States over the next year, marking one of the largest such agreements made by Washington as it continues to tighten its immigration policies.
An initial group of 20 deportees is scheduled to arrive on Thursday. Upon arrival, they will be free to leave or apply for asylum. Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah emphasized that those arriving are considered guests and are not facing prosecution in either the U.S. or Liberia. He also stated that none of the deportees are criminals.
Piah described the arrangement as a "humanitarian arrangement," aligning with Liberia's historical role as a provider of shelter to those seeking refuge from persecution, wars, and other conflicts. The government has stressed that no compensation or promises of reward were exchanged for its consent to participate in the program. However, Liberia will receive U.S. support to manage the program and bolster its broader migration system.
The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the agreement. This deal follows a pattern established by the Trump administration, which has deported individuals to so-called "third countries" when their return to their home nations is legally barred. Several African nations, including Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, have previously entered similar agreements with the U.S.
These "third-country" deals have drawn criticism from rights groups, who have raised concerns about their opacity and the potential for deportees to be repatriated against their will. Ghana, for instance, has faced legal challenges over accusations of forcing deportees back to countries they had fled. In a separate case, Eswatini reported that two individuals deported from the U.S. had voluntarily returned to their home countries. Eswatini had previously confirmed receiving $5.1 million from the Trump administration for its participation.
Piah drew a parallel to Liberia's founding in the early 19th century as a settlement for former slaves and freed Black individuals from the United States and the Caribbean, stating that rejecting these individuals would be contrary to the nation's core principles. No information has been released regarding the nationalities of the deportees.