Liberia received its first deportation flight from the United States on Thursday, part of an agreement for the West African nation to accept up to 1,200 foreign nationals over the next year. The plane, which departed from Louisiana, carried individuals primarily from Latin America, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia.
According to Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah, the arrivals are being offered protection from being returned to their home countries, where judges have determined they could face torture or abuse. Liberia has stated its commitment to its role as a sanctuary for displaced people and affirmed that no individual will be repatriated until legal proceedings regarding protection claims are finalized.
The deportees will be free to leave Liberia or apply for formal asylum. They will also receive assistance from the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. refugee agency. Liberian officials emphasized that the individuals are not criminals and are not facing prosecution under U.S. or Liberian law, but are being received as guests.
The agreement allows Liberia to support its migration system more broadly, with the U.S. having awarded $5 million this year for "migration management activities." This deal positions Liberia as one of the largest recipients of third-country deportees from the U.S. on the African continent.
The U.S. has also established similar agreements with other African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.