The United States has transferred 20 deportees to Liberia as part of an agreement under which the African country will accept up to 1,200 migrants deported from U.S. territory. The measure is part of President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, which seeks to expand deportations to third countries.
According to information published by Telemundo and The Associated Press (AP), Liberia will receive deportees over a period of approximately one year. Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah explained that the people transferred could include citizens from Africa, North America, South America, and the Caribbean.
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The agreement also includes U.S. support for Liberia to manage the program and strengthen its immigration system. Liberian authorities say the transferred individuals will be able to request protection or asylum in the country and, according to official statements, may leave Liberia if they choose.
Why is the United States sending deportees to third countries?
The strategy is intended to carry out removals when it is difficult to return certain individuals directly to their countries of origin. However, human rights organizations and immigration lawyers have raised concerns about these agreements because some deportees may have court orders preventing their return to certain countries for safety reasons.
