Liberia has agreed to receive up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States within the next year, with an initial batch of 20 individuals set to arrive on Thursday, as announced by the Liberian government. These deportees, approved for travel on medical grounds, may include individuals from African and Western Hemisphere nations. Specific details regarding the nationalities of the deportees have not been disclosed, in accordance with the U.S. State Department’s policy.
Historically, the United States has upheld the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to countries where their human rights or safety may be at risk based on factors such as race, religion, or nationality. However, since President Donald Trump assumed office in January 2025, his administration has engaged in agreements with various African nations and others globally to deport individuals who cannot be sent back to their home countries. While these third-country deportation deals have faced criticism for lack of transparency, they have been defended by Washington as lawful.
Critics, including immigration lawyers, have raised concerns that these deportations exploit legal loopholes, often leaving migrants in unfamiliar territories with limited options to return to their countries of origin. Liberia, following discussions with Trump and other West African leaders, has agreed to host the deportees as guests who are free to leave at their discretion and may even seek asylum within Liberia. The Liberian government clarified that this arrangement is not based on reciprocity with the U.S., and Liberia is not seeking compensation for accepting the deportees.
Senate Democrats have denounced these deportation agreements as exploitative practices that involve significant financial costs for the U.S. taxpayer. Notable African countries that have accepted third-country deportees from the U.S. include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
As part of a broader strategy to reduce the foreign-born population in the U.S., the Trump administration has encouraged unauthorized residents to self-deport and recently revoked over 175,000 visas held by foreign nationals. In a series of court decisions, legal protections for thousands of immigrants from countries like Ethiopia, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia have been terminated, allowing for their potential deportation.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other organizations have criticized the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections, warning of negative economic impacts and labor shortages in key industries like construction and healthcare. Additionally, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has condemned the demonization of migrants within the country, with support from Pope Leo.