Liberia has agreed to receive a maximum of 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States within the next year, with an initial batch of 20 expected to land on Thursday, according to a statement from the Liberian government. The government’s announcement on Tuesday indicated that the deportees would comprise individuals from African and Western Hemisphere nations who have received medical clearance for travel. Specific details regarding the nationalities of the deportees were not immediately available, as the U.S. State Department does not disclose such information.
Traditionally, the U.S. has upheld the principle of non-refoulement in its domestic immigration laws and international agreements, which prohibits the return of migrants to countries where their human rights, safety, or freedom may be at risk due to factors such as race, religion, or nationality. However, since assuming office in January 2025, the Trump administration has brokered agreements with various African countries and others worldwide to deport individuals who cannot be legally sent back to their home countries. Despite criticisms regarding the lack of notice provided to deportees, these third-country deportation deals have been defended by Washington as lawful, with minimal interference from the judiciary.
Legal experts have pointed out that the Trump administration exploits third-country deportations as a legal workaround, often resulting in migrants being sent to unfamiliar destinations, leaving them with limited options to return to their countries of origin. Liberian President Joseph Boakai was among five West African leaders who met with President Trump at the White House last year, where Trump reportedly encouraged the leaders to accept third-country deportees.
In its recent statement, Liberia clarified that the deportees would be treated as guests, free to depart at their discretion and eligible to seek asylum in Liberia. The government emphasized that the agreement did not involve any quid pro quo with the U.S., and Monrovia was not seeking compensation for hosting the deportees. Several Senate Democrats have criticized such agreements, alleging that deals with countries like Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Eswatini, and Palau have cost American taxpayers millions of dollars, portraying deportation as a bargaining tool accompanied by secretive payments and concessions.
Other African nations that have accepted third-country deportees from the U.S. include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. The deportations form part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to reduce the foreign-born population in the U.S., which includes encouraging unauthorized individuals to self-deport and revoking a substantial number of visas from foreign nationals.
In a recent development, a federal judge permitted the Trump administration to terminate legal protections for over 5,000 Ethiopians residing and working in the U.S., following similar decisions affecting individuals from South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia. These protections, granted under temporary protected status (TPS), have been in place since the 1990s for individuals fleeing armed conflicts or natural disasters. Critics argue that TPS was never intended as a permanent solution and that some recipients could have pursued asylum upon their arrival in the U.S.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops have expressed concerns over the termination of TPS protections, citing potential negative impacts on the economy and essential sectors like construction and healthcare. The move has also been criticized for exacerbating demographic challenges in the U.S. due to retirements and declining birth rates.