Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 people deported from the United States over the next year under a migration arrangement with the Trump administration, Liberian authorities have said.
Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah announced the agreement on Tuesday in Monrovia, saying the first group of 20 deportees is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday.
Piah said those being transferred would include citizens or nationals of African and Western Hemisphere countries who have been medically cleared to travel.
“The people to be transferred from the United States of America to Liberia will include citizens or nationals of African and Western Hemisphere countries who are medically authorised to travel,” he told reporters.
The agreement is among several arrangements the Trump administration has reached with African countries to receive deportees who are not necessarily citizens of those countries.
The deals form part of the administration’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration and efforts to discourage irregular migration to the United States.
However, the arrangements have drawn concern from immigration advocates, particularly over cases involving migrants who have protection orders from US immigration judges preventing their return to their countries of origin because of potential risks to their safety.
Piah did not disclose whether any of the people expected to arrive in Liberia are subject to such protection orders.
He said the deportees would have the option of seeking asylum in Liberia after their arrival and could leave the country if they wished.
Liberia will also receive support from the United States to administer the programme and strengthen its migration management system, Piah said.
