The initial group of 20 migrants, deported by the United States, arrived on Thursday at Roberts International Airport near Monrovia, marking the start of an agreement in which Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 foreign nationals over the next year, as reported by the Associated Press.
The aircraft touched down just before 1:00 p.m. local time, and the deportees were subsequently transported by bus from the airport.
Staff from the Liberian Commission on Repatriation, Resettlement, and Reintegration provided assistance to the arrivals. Journalists from AFP present at the scene were kept at a distance, preventing any interviews with the newcomers.
Announced on Tuesday by the Liberian government, this agreement is one of the most significant deportation operations involving third countries initiated by the Trump administration.
Jerolinmek Piah, Liberia's Minister of Information, specified that the group of 1,200 deportees will not solely consist of African citizens: "Among the 1,200 deportees will be individuals from Africa, as well as North America, South America, and the Caribbean."
During a press conference, Liberia's Minister of Justice, Natu Oswald Tweh, explained that the government reviewed the list of migrants prior to their arrival, noting that most had committed immigration-related offenses. Tweh further stated that the deportees have the option to seek asylum in Liberia or leave at their discretion.
The Liberian government also clarified that "no compensation or promise of rewards has been demanded or received in exchange for their participation in the program," although support will be provided to manage the scheme and enhance their immigration system.
Under a series of often confidential agreements, the Trump administration has deported thousands to nearly two dozen countries aside from their country of origin, with about ten located in Africa.
A specialized tracker estimated that, by early August, approximately 22,000 people had been sent to at least 26 countries under this arrangement.
Liberia thus joins an African network that already includes Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Ghana, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon, among others. Cuban deportees were among the first to arrive in Eswatini under similar agreements since 2025.
Immigration attorneys warn that Washington exploits these deportations as a legal loophole to indirectly force asylum seekers to return to their countries of origin, as the U.S. argues it is only legally prohibited from sending them directly back to the nations they fled.
In numerous cases, migrants are relocated to countries they have never been to or where they face potential security threats.
In February, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled the policy of deporting to third countries without prior notification or the chance to contest the transfer as unlawful, although the ruling's implementation was temporarily halted.
The agreement with Liberia is also linked to the case of Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Ábrego García, who became a symbol of mass deportations after being mistakenly sent to El Salvador. According to The New York Times, the Trump administration sought to deport him to Liberia, and a federal judge pressured the Department of Justice regarding this plan, which remained in litigation as of August.
Understanding the U.S.-Liberia Deportation Agreement
Why is Liberia accepting deported migrants from the U.S.?
Liberia agreed to accept up to 1,200 deported migrants as part of an arrangement with the U.S. government, which does not involve any compensation or rewards but includes support for managing the deportation program and strengthening Liberia's immigration system.
What are the legal concerns surrounding this deportation policy?
Legal concerns include the lack of prior notification and the opportunity to contest deportations. In Massachusetts, a federal judge declared this practice illegal, but the enforcement of the ruling is temporarily on hold.
Who can be deported under this agreement?
The agreement involves deporting individuals not only from Africa but also from North America, South America, and the Caribbean, with most having committed immigration-related offenses.