- Liberia announced on Tuesday it would accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the US over the next 12 months.
- The first flight, carrying 20 deportees, arrived at Roberts international airport outside Monrovia on Thursday.
- Most deportees are from Latin American countries, including Venezuela, Cuba, and Colombia, according to Liberia's information minister.
- The Liberia-US agreement is among the largest third-country deportations driven by the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.
- The 1,200 deportees will include African nationals and also nationals from North America, South America, and the Caribbean.
- Liberia's government stated that deportees would be received as guests and could apply for asylum in Liberia.
The U.S. has initiated a significant deportation program, sending 20 migrants to Liberia as part of a larger agreement to deport 1,200 individuals over the next year.1
According to Liberia's information minister, Jerolinmek Piah, the deportees primarily come from Latin American countries, including Venezuela and Cuba.45
During a briefing, Liberia's justice minister, Natu Oswald Tweh, noted that most deportees had committed migration-related offenses and could seek asylum in Liberia.8
This agreement is one of the largest third-country deportations under the Trump administration, which has been criticized for using such arrangements to indirectly force asylum seekers back to their home countries.6
Advocates argue that many deportees are sent to countries they have never visited, facing safety risks and limited options.
The first flight arrived in Monrovia at 12:45 local time after departing from Louisiana and stopping in Dakar, Senegal.23
Liberia has stated that it will not demand compensation for accepting deportees but will seek support to manage the program effectively.
The U.S. has allocated $5 million to Liberia for migration management activities this year.
“The deportees arrived at Roberts international airport outside Monrovia, with most hailing from Latin American countries including Venezuela and Cuba, according to Liberia's information minister. The deal is among the largest third-country deportations under Trump's immigration crackdown, and deportees can seek asylum in Liberia if they wish.”
The Guardian
