Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 foreigners deported from the United States over the next year, with the first batch of 20 deportees expected to arrive on Thursday, according to the Minister of Information, Jerolinmek Piah.
Details of the Deportation Agreement
Mr Piah disclosed the agreement in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the deportees “will include citizens or nationals of African and Western Hemisphere countries who are medically authorised to travel.” He did not provide information on the specific nationalities of the deportees.
This is one of the largest deals the US has made with an African country since it intensified its migration clampdown under President Donald Trump’s second term. At least 14 African countries have made deals to receive US deportees in the last year, out of 37 third-world countries worldwide, Premium Times reports.
Liberia’s Tradition of Providing Shelter
Mr Piah said none of the deportees was a criminal or facing prosecution in the US or Liberia. He explained that they were being accepted “in keeping with Liberia’s long-standing tradition of being a country that has provided shelter to all those seeking refuge and protection from persecution, wars and other forms of conflict.”
“We have always welcomed people who cannot return to their home of origin, and to reject these third country nationals would be acting against our best interest,” he said.
Financial Incentives and Other African Countries
Last year, Eswatini received $5.1 million (£3.8 million) from the Trump administration in exchange for deportees. Premium Times reports that Ghana also accepted 14 deportees that year. By Thursday, when the first group of 20 arrives, Liberia will join the list of African countries that have received deportees from the US.
According to the minister, the initial group of 20 deportees are due to land on Thursday and would be free to go when they wished or could apply for asylum.
