Liberia agrees to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from US

Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States over the next year, with an initial group of 20 deportees set to arrive on Thursday, according to a government statement released on Tuesday. This comes as part of several agreements struck by the Trump administration with African nations to deport individuals who cannot be legally sent back to their home countries due to a risk of torture or other abuses.

These deportees have often been granted legal protection against repatriation after U.S. immigration judges ruled in their favor.

The statement from Liberia's government indicated that the deportees will comprise citizens or nationals from African and Western Hemisphere countries, and will be medically cleared to travel. Specific details about the deportees' nationalities have not been released, as the State Department does not disclose such information. The Liberian government emphasized that the deal with the U.S. is not a quid pro quo arrangement and that the deportees would be treated as guests, free to leave Liberia at any time and could apply for asylum within the country.

Liberia pledged to provide support to help manage the program and enhance its overall migration system. The government drew upon Liberia's historical role as a refuge for freed slaves from the U.S. and its long-standing tradition of accepting individuals seeking refuge from political and other crises. President Joseph Boakai was among five West African leaders who traveled to the White House last year to meet with then-President Trump, where the latter had reportedly expressed his desire for these West African leaders to accept third-country deportees.