First group of US deportees, out of an expected 1,200, arrive in Liberia

What the report says

A first group of deportees sent from the United States has arrived in Liberia, marking the start of a transfer that is expected to bring up to 1,200 people to the West African country over the coming year. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that 20 people landed Thursday at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia. The group reportedly included mostly people from Latin American countries such as Venezuela and Cuba.

The arrival is part of the Trump administration’s broader use of third-country deportation arrangements, under which migrants are removed to countries that are not their own when their home countries will not take them back. According to the report, the U.S. has signed such agreements with dozens of countries, and Liberia is among a growing list of partners. The article says the U.S. provided Liberia with $5 million this year for “migration management activities,” although Liberia’s government denied that the deal involved any financial quid pro quo.

After landing, the deportees were taken away by Liberian authorities and were not allowed to speak with reporters, the report said. Liberia’s information ministry said the people would be able to apply for asylum and could leave the country if they wished. The ministry also said they were not being treated as criminals. The arrangement has drawn criticism from rights advocates and others who question whether smaller countries are being used as holding places for deportees and whether those removed will have sufficient support.