Liberia to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from U.S.
Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the U.S. in the next 12 months.
The first group of 20 deportees is expected to arrive on Thursday, the government said in a statement on Tuesday.
Since taking office in January last year, President Donald Trump’s administration has struck several deals with African countries on deporting people it cannot legally send to their home countries.
The deportees have in most cases obtained legal protection against repatriation after U.S. immigration judges ruled they risked torture or other abuses in their home countries.
Washington has defended the third-country deals as lawful, although rights groups and advocates say the details are opaque and many deportees are ultimately repatriated.
The Liberian government’s statement said the deportees will include citizens or nationals of African and Western Hemisphere countries who are medically authorised to travel.
No information was immediately available on the deportees’ nationalities. The State Department does not disclose such details.
Other African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Ghana and Sierra Leone, have also accepted third-country deportees.
Liberia said recently that the deportees would be received “as guests” who could leave when they wanted and could apply for asylum in Liberia.
The statement said the deal did not involve a quid pro quo where Washington and Monrovia would demand compensation for taking the deportees.
It added, however, that the government would receive support to help manage the programme and strengthen its migration system more broadly. It offered no further details.
The statement also referenced Liberia’s history as a refuge for formerly enslaved people from the U.S. and its long history of accepting people seeking refuge from political and other crises.
President Joseph Boakai was one of five West African leaders who travelled to the White House last year to meet with Mr Trump.
(Reuters/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Democratic Socialist Angie Nixon wins Florida Senate primary
Democratic Socialist Angie Nixon has won Florida’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary, defeating former army intelligence officer Alexander Vindman.
Abuja
Wike probes FCT officials for converting green areas into car dealership lots
FCT minister Nyesom Wike has ordered an end to using green areas, parks, and gardens in Abuja as car dealership lots.
Faith
Ogun govt declares August 20 holiday to mark Isese Day
The Ogun state government has declared August 20 as a holiday to commemorate the 2026 Isese Day.
Lagos
Lagos: LASEPA seals facilities over environmental violations
LASEPA sealed several establishments in Agege and Mushin over environmental violations.
Rights
Strike continues until Gov Aiyedatiwa meets our demands: AAUA-ASUU
ASUU branch of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko branch, says it will continue its ongoing indefinite strike until the Ondo government meets its demands.
States
Driver sentenced to years in prison for stealing tiles
The Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a driver, Edward Isaac, to two years’ imprisonment for stealing cartons of floor tiles worth N880,000.
