Liberia has finalized a landmark agreement with the United States to accept up to 1,200 foreigners deported from the US over the next year, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to curb illegal migration. This agreement, hailed as one of the largest deals of its kind so far, comes amidst a broader clampdown by the US administration on migration flows. The deal centers on a carefully orchestrated strategy to receive individuals who are legally protected from returning to their countries, a practice often associated with persecution and human rights violations. The government intends to emphasize that those being brought to Liberia are being received as guests, a longstanding tradition rooted in Liberia’s historical role as a haven for refugees and those seeking protection from conflict and violence. Specifically, the agreement details that 20 individuals are scheduled to land on Thursday and will be granted the freedom to depart when they choose, alongside the possibility of seeking asylum. Notably, no information has been released regarding the nationalities of the deportees, raising questions about their legal status and potential vulnerability. The US has repeatedly deported numerous individuals to designated ‘third countries’ since its inception in January 2025, a policy that has drawn criticism from human rights groups. Several African nations, including Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, have already initiated similar arrangements with the US, seeking to avoid legal repatriation. The US government defends this arrangement as lawful, despite concerns raised by civil rights groups regarding potential opacity and the ultimate repatriation of deportees. Ghana has reportedly filed legal suits accusing the US of forcibly returning deportees to countries they fled, violating their rights. On Tuesday, the Eswatini government announced the voluntary return of two individuals who had been deported from the US to the southern African kingdom – Mauritania and the DR Congo – following a year of $5.1 million from the Trump administration. The US State Department has yet to comment on the agreement, and Piah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that Liberia had ‘not demanded or received any compensation or promises of rewards in exchange for its consent to participate in the programme.’ He asserted that the arrangement is entirely humanitarian, highlighting the government’s commitment to providing refuge and protection to those fleeing persecution, war, and other forms of conflict. The agreement comes after years of increasing pressure from the US administration to curtail migration, with several African nations already engaging in similar arrangements with the US to avoid legal repatriation. Piah referenced Liberia’s founding as a settlement for former slaves and freed black people from the United States and the Caribbean, emphasizing the nation’s long-standing tradition of welcoming individuals who cannot return to their home of origin. He stated, ‘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.’ The US State Department has remained silent on the matter. For further details, visitors to the BBCAfrica.com website can find more news and information from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, and on Instagram at bbcafrica.’}” ,
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Source: BBC Africa
