Liberia agrees to accept 1,200 foreign deportees from the US

The West African nation of Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 foreigners deported from the United States over the next year, according to a deal detailed by Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah. This is one of the largest agreements of its kind signed by Washington as it continues to crack down on illegal migration. The details of who will be accepted and their protection status are unclear.

Liberia's Information Minister emphasized that the deportees would be received as guests and would have the option to apply for asylum upon arrival. The government's decision to accept these individuals is framed as a humanitarian act, honoring Liberia's long-standing tradition of providing shelter to those seeking refuge from persecution or conflict.

This follows a trend of the US deporting individuals to what are known as "third countries," including African nations like Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone. While the US administration states these deals are lawful, rights groups have criticized them for being opaque and potentially illegal.

Liberia has not demanded compensation or rewards for participating in the program, insisting it is entirely humanitarian. The country's history as a settlement for former slaves and freed people of color from the US and Caribbean adds weight to the justification for accepting these deportees.