Liberia to take 1,200 deportees from the US

Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States, with the first group of 20 individuals expected to arrive this Thursday. These deportees will include nationals from Africa, North and South America, and the Caribbean.

Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah stated that those arriving will be considered "guests of the Republic" and will "remain free to depart the country when they so desire." This agreement represents the largest number of deportees under such arrangements made by the Trump administration, which has reportedly struck deals with at least 35 countries.

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The government wants to emphasise that those being brought to Liberia are being received as guests of the Republic.

According to Refugees International and Human Rights First, groups tracking these agreements, the U.S. has sent approximately 22,000 people to countries they did not originate from as of early August 2026. The Liberia deal, established by an agreement in 2025 and made public in March 2026, also ensures that asylum seekers and those needing protection would be able to stay in Liberia if deported there.

The U.S. has sought to send individuals like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvador native, to Liberia. As an incentive for Liberia's cooperation, the Trump administration previously extended the validity of certain visas for Liberians from 12 to 36 months and committed $124 million for the country's health services. However, the Liberia deportations agreement is currently facing challenges through several lawsuits in the U.S.

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remain free to depart the country when they so desire.