Liberia has agreed to receive a maximum of 1,200 deportees from the United States over the next year, with the first batch of 20 expected to land on Thursday, according to a government statement. The deportees will comprise individuals from African and Western Hemisphere nations who have medical clearance to travel. The specific nationalities of the deportees were not immediately disclosed, as per the U.S. State Department’s policy.
Historically, the U.S. has adhered to the non-refoulement principle, which prohibits sending individuals back to countries where their human rights might be at risk. However, since President Donald Trump’s tenure began in 2025, the administration has engaged in agreements with various African nations and others globally to repatriate individuals to third countries. These actions have faced criticism for lack of transparency and notice to affected parties.
Legal experts have noted that third-country deportations are utilized by the Trump administration as a legal workaround, often leading deportees to unfamiliar locations, leaving them with limited options to return to their home countries. Liberian President Joseph Boakai, among other West African leaders, visited the White House last year, where Trump encouraged the acceptance of third-country deportees.
Liberia has assured that the deportees will be welcomed as guests with the freedom to depart at will and apply for asylum within Liberia. The government emphasized that the agreement with the U.S. did not involve any exchange of compensation and was not based on a quid pro quo arrangement.
Senate Democrats released a report in February characterizing such agreements as exploitative, citing significant costs incurred by the U.S. in deals with various nations. Notable African countries accepting U.S. third-country deportees include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
In a broader strategy to reduce the foreign-born population in the U.S., the Trump administration has taken steps such as urging unauthorized residents to self-deport and revoking numerous visas. Recent judicial decisions have allowed the administration to terminate legal protections for thousands of individuals from various countries, including Ethiopians, South Sudanese, Myanmar, and Somali nationals.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have criticized the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections, citing potential economic repercussions and moral concerns regarding treatment of migrants in the country.
