Liberian officials announced Tuesday that the country has agreed to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States over the next year. The arrangement, described by authorities in Monrovia as one of the largest of its kind, involves individuals from Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean who are not Liberian nationals.
The agreement comes amid a broader U.S. administration effort to deport migrants to countries other than their nations of origin. Advocacy groups report that the U.S. has established similar arrangements with nearly two dozen countries, approximately 10 of which are located in Africa. While some countries, such as Nigeria, have recently declined to accept such deportees, Liberia has characterized the move as a humanitarian gesture supported by U.S. assistance.
Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah stated that the first group of 20 deportees is expected to arrive on Thursday. Piah noted that the transferred individuals will be permitted to seek asylum within Liberia or depart the country if they choose. Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh said the government has screened the list of individuals and identified the majority as having committed immigration violations and offenses.
Immigration lawyers stated that this practice can serve as a legal mechanism to move asylum seekers who have been granted protection orders by U.S. judges. These orders are intended to prevent individuals from being returned to their home countries due to safety concerns. By transferring them to a third country like Liberia, the U.S. removes them from its territory without technically violating the specific order not to return them to their native land. The Liberian government did not specify whether any of the 1,200 individuals have such protection orders.
The agreement sets a precedent for how the U.S. administration coordinates with foreign governments to manage its deportation backlog, particularly when home countries are unwilling or unable to receive their own citizens. As part of the deal, Liberia will receive financial and technical support from the U.S. to strengthen its migration infrastructure. The first arrivals are scheduled for Thursday, August 20, 2026, marking the start of a year-long implementation window.