Liberia has agreed to receive a maximum of 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States within the next year, with an initial batch of 20 set to land on Thursday, according to a statement by the Liberian government. The government’s announcement on Tuesday specified that the deportees would consist of individuals from African and Western Hemisphere nations who have been cleared for travel due to medical reasons.
Details regarding the specific nationalities of the deportees were not immediately disclosed, as per the U.S. State Department’s policy of not revealing such information. Historically, the U.S. has upheld the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of migrants to countries where their human rights, safety, or freedom may be at risk due to factors like race, religion, or nationality.
Since assuming office in January 2025, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has negotiated agreements with various African nations, as well as other countries worldwide, to repatriate individuals who cannot be sent back to their home countries legally. While the U.S. government has defended these third-country deportation deals as lawful, some critics have raised concerns about the lack of notice provided to deportees.
Legal experts have pointed out that the Trump administration exploits third-country deportations as a loophole, leaving many migrants stranded in unfamiliar territories with limited options to return to their countries of origin. Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai was part of a delegation of West African leaders that met with Trump at the White House last year, during which Trump encouraged them to accept third-country deportees.
In its recent statement, Liberia assured that the deportees would be treated as guests with the freedom to depart at their discretion and the option to seek asylum within Liberia. The government clarified that the agreement did not involve any exchange with the U.S., and Monrovia was not seeking compensation for hosting the deportees.
Additionally, a group of Senate Democrats raised concerns about the exploitative nature of such agreements, citing the financial burden on American taxpayers resulting from deals with countries like Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini, and Palau. The senators criticized the use of deportation as a bargaining tool, involving secret payments and concessions to pressure countries into accepting deportees.
Countries in Africa that have accepted third-country deportees from the U.S. include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. The deportations form part of the Trump administration’s strategy to reduce the foreign-born population in the U.S., which includes urging undocumented individuals to self-deport and revoking visas from foreign nationals.
Recent court decisions have allowed the Trump administration to terminate legal protections for thousands of Ethiopians, South Sudanese, Myanmar natives, and Somalis residing in the U.S. The administration argues that temporary protected status was never intended as a permanent solution, with some recipients potentially eligible for asylum upon arrival.
Critics, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have voiced opposition to the termination of TPS protections, citing adverse effects on the economy and crucial sectors like construction and healthcare. The move has also sparked concerns about demographic challenges amid retirements and declining birth rates.
In summary, Liberia’s agreement to host third-country deportees from the U.S. underscores the complexities and controversies surrounding immigration policies and practices, particularly under the Trump administration.
