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Liberia welcomed its inaugural deportation aircraft from the United States on Thursday as part of a bilateral arrangement permitting the West African nation to accept as many as 1,200 foreign nationals during the coming year. Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah confirmed that the flight, which carried approximately 20 individuals, included nationals predominantly from Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia, according to Reuters.
Liberian officials stated that numerous deportees had been transferred to the country specifically to protect them from potential return to their nations of origin, where judicial authorities had determined they faced risks of torture or severe mistreatment. The government characterized the arrangement as consistent with Liberia’s established position as a haven for displaced populations fleeing crises.
Deportees will retain the freedom to leave Liberia or pursue formal asylum applications, government officials said. Both the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations refugee agency will provide assistance to the arriving individuals, officials added.
The aircraft departed from Louisiana, made a stopover in Senegal, and arrived in Monrovia at 12:45 p.m. local time, according to Reuters reporting.
In a statement released Tuesday, Liberia pledged not to return any transferred individuals to their home countries until legal proceedings regarding asylum claims reach completion. The government emphasized that the arrivals are not criminals and face no prosecution under American or Liberian law, describing them instead as guests of the republic.
While Liberia declined to seek direct financial compensation, Washington has committed to providing support for program administration and broader migration system improvements. The United States allocated $5 million to Liberia this year for migration-related activities, Reuters reported.
The Liberian agreement represents one of Africa’s largest deportation deals. The U.S. has negotiated similar arrangements with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Ghana and Sierra Leone, according to Reuters.
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