Key facts
- Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 foreigners deported from the US over the next year.
- An initial group of 20 deportees is scheduled to arrive in Liberia on Thursday.
- Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah stated the arrangement is humanitarian and in keeping with the nation's tradition of providing shelter.
- The deportees are not facing criminal prosecution in the US or Liberia.
- Liberia has not received compensation for agreeing to the program but will receive US support for migration system management.
- The US has made similar deals with other African countries, including Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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 intensifies efforts to curb illegal migration. The first group of 20 deportees is expected to arrive on Thursday.
Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah stated that the individuals being received are considered guests and are not criminals or facing prosecution in either the US or Liberia. He emphasized that the decision aligns with Liberia's historical role as a haven for those seeking refuge from persecution, wars, and conflicts, characterizing the arrangement as entirely humanitarian.
While Liberia has not sought or received financial compensation, it will benefit from US support in managing the program and enhancing its overall migration system. This deal follows similar arrangements between the US and other African nations, including Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone. Rights groups have previously criticized these third-country deportation deals for their opacity and the potential for deportees to be sent to countries they fled, with Ghana facing legal challenges over such accusations.
Piah referenced Liberia's founding in the 19th century by freed African-American slaves, highlighting the nation's long-standing tradition of welcoming those unable to return to their homelands.