Liberia Receives First Batch Of US Deportees Under Disputed Agreement

Twenty migrants deported from the United States landed in Liberia on Thursday, marking the beginning of what could grow to 1,200 foreign nationals the West African nation has agreed to take in over the coming year.

With this move, Liberia becomes the newest African nation to join the roster of countries accepting deportees under the immigration policies pursued by US President Donald Trump, policies that remain a source of significant controversy.

According to AFP News Agency, the aircraft carrying the group landed at Liberia’s international airport just before 1:00 pm local time (1300 GMT).

From there, the migrants were placed on a bus that departed the airport, located near the capital city of Monrovia.

Officials from Liberia’s Commission on Repatriation, Resettlement and Reintegration were on hand to assist the arriving group.

Press Kept at Bay

Journalists were not permitted to get close enough to speak with the deportees, being held back at a distance throughout the process.

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The Liberian government had confirmed on Tuesday its commitment to accepting as many as 1,200 people deported from the US within a 12-month period.

Officials clarified that these individuals are “free to depart the country when they so desire” or, alternatively, can pursue asylum status.

Addressing concerns about the arrangement, the government stated it “has not demanded or received any compensation or promise of rewards in exchange for its consent to participate in the programme.”

Officials further explained that under the terms of the partnership, “Liberia will receive support to help manage this programme and strengthen its migration system more generally,”describing the entire initiative as “entirely humanitarian” in nature.