Twenty migrants deported from the United States have arrived in Liberia, marking the beginning of a controversial agreement between Washington and Monrovia that could see up to 1,200 people transferred to the West African country over the next year.
The arrivals at Roberts Ingternational Airport near Monrovia represent the first implementation of a new US policy approach known as “third-country deportation” — where migrants are sent to a country other than their own. Reports indicate that some of the first arrivals include migrants from Latin American countries, although authorities have not released a full breakdown of their nationalities.
The move is part of a wider immigration crackdown by the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has expanded efforts to remove migrants who cannot easily be returned directly to their home countries because of legal barriers, including fears of persecution or abuse.
Under traditional deportation procedures, people removed from the US are usually returned to their countries of nationality. However, the US has increasingly negotiated agreements with third countries willing to accept migrants who may have no previous connection to those destinations. Liberia is among several African countries involved in such arrangements.
The Liberian government has described the arrangement as a humanitarian partnership, saying those arriving will be treated as guests and will have options, including applying for asylum in Liberia or leaving the country if they choose. Officials also said Liberia did not demand or receive compensation in exchange for accepting the deportees, though support will be provided to help manage the programme.
The deal has attracted criticism from human rights groups and immigration advocates, who argue that sending people to countries where they have no personal or cultural ties could create new legal and humanitarian challenges.
The arrival of the first 20 deportees now places Liberia at the centre of a wider global debate over whether third-country deportation agreements provide a practical solution to migration challenges or create additional risks for vulnerable migrants.
