MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia agrees to accept up to 1,200 US deportees under a newly established Trump migration deal, marking one of the most significant arrangements of the administration’s recent immigration policy. According to Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah, the deportees will arrive over the course of a year, with the first group of 20 individuals expected to land on Thursday.
In a formal statement, Minister Piah confirmed that the individuals slated for transfer are third-country nationals. He acknowledged that some of these individuals may wish to seek asylum in Liberia, emphasizing that the government is fully prepared to honor the agreement or arrangement as outlined.
The incoming cohort will include citizens or nationals of both African and Western hemisphere countries who have been medically authorized to travel. This development reflects a broader strategy, as the Trump administration has actively struck deals with several African countries to accept deportees from third countries.
However, the policy has drawn scrutiny from human rights and advocacy groups. Critics warn that some of these agreements could involve migrants who are currently protected from deportation to their home countries by US immigration judges due to legitimate safety concerns.
Despite the ongoing debate, Liberian authorities maintain that the transfer process aligns with national protocols and international obligations, ensuring that all arrivals are managed systematically over the coming year.
