Liberia to take 1,200 US deportees in new agreement

Liberia confirmed on August 19, 2026 that it has reached an agreement with the United States to accept up to 1,200 foreign nationals deported from American territory over the next 12 months.

Officials described the arrangement as part of Washington’s third-country deportation approach, used for people who cannot be returned to their countries of origin because of legal protections or safety concerns.

How the Liberia transfer program is set to

How the Liberia transfer program is set to work According to the Liberian government According to the Liberian government, the program covers non-criminal individuals and is designed as a relocation mechanism rather than a criminal justice measure. Those transferred would be treated as guests in Liberia, with the option to apply for asylum or to leave the country voluntarily. An initial group of 20 people is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, Liberian officials said, marking the first movement under the agreement.

What Liberia and the US have said about support and terms United States The US State Department has not formally commented on the specific agreement, according to Liberian officials. Liberia’s Information Ministry said the initiative is humanitarian in nature and does not include direct financial compensation. However, the ministry added that the United States will provide technical support aimed at strengthening Liberia’s migration management systems. Links to other third-country arrangements and rights concerns The deal follows similar US agreements with other African states, including Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and Eswatini, the Liberian government said. International rights organizations have scrutinized such third-country transfers, raising questions about the long-term status of deportees and the possibility of secondary repatriation. Liberian authorities said the people covered by this Liberian authorities said the people covered by this program are not facing criminal prosecution, and argued the plan is consistent with Liberia’s historical role as a refuge for displaced populations.

Key operational details, including how individual cases will be processed after arrival and what timelines will apply to asylum applications or onward travel, were not detailed in the government’s statement.