U.S. deports 20 non-Liberians to Liberia in first flight under new pact
Deportees will include nationals from Africa, North America, South America and the Caribbean, according to Liberian officials who said they can apply for asylum if they choose.
On Thursday, the United States successfully carried out its inaugural deportation under a new pact with Liberia, according to wire material. Among the 20 individuals deported to the West African nation were non-Liberian nationals, marking a significant step in the Trump administration's efforts to deport people to countries outside their own. Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah revealed that the deportees comprised various nationalities, including African, North American, South American, and Caribbean citizens.
According to Liberian Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh, the deportees could seek asylum in Liberia if they desired. However, the U.S. State Department did not provide further details regarding the agreement, stating that the implementation of the Trump administration's immigration policies is a top priority. The department emphasized its unwavering commitment to curbing illegal and mass immigration while strengthening border security.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm the deportations "for operational security reasons" and referred additional inquiries to the State Department. The practice of deporting migrants to third countries, especially when they have never been to those nations or face safety risks, has raised concerns. Under agreements with at least 35 countries, including Liberia and 13 others in Africa, over 23,000 people have been deported, as reported by Third Country Deportation Watch, a collaboration between Refugees International and Human Rights First.
In September 2025, the U.S. State Department announced that Liberia had agreed to accept deportees who were not originally from the country. However, the six-page agreement signed in September 2025 does not specify the number or origins of the deportees. In October 2025, Liberia offered to accept Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran who was mistakenly deported to prison in El Salvador.
The Trump administration has vowed to send him to a third country, including Liberia, but the government has so far resisted sending him to Costa Rica, which has expressed willingness to accept him. Abrego Garcia is currently challenging his deportation to Liberia through a federal lawsuit in Maryland.
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