Liberia to Accept 1,200 Third-Country Deportees from the U.S.

Liberia announced on August 18, 2026, that it will accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States over the next year as part of an agreement between the two nations. The first group of 20 deportees is expected to arrive on August 20, according to Liberia’s Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah. The deportees will include individuals from Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Piah stated that the deportees would be welcomed 'as guests' and could apply for asylum in Liberia. He emphasized that the arrangement is not a quid pro quo with the U.S. government and that Liberia is not seeking compensation for accepting the deportees. The agreement is framed as a humanitarian gesture, reflecting Liberia's historical ties to the United States. Liberia's Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh noted that the migrants have been screened prior to their arrival, with many having immigration violations. The U.S.-Liberia agreement includes provisions that prevent Liberia from returning any transferred individual to their home country while their protection claim is pending. Rights groups have raised concerns about the safety of some migrants sent to countries they have never visited.