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Liberia’s Information Minister, Jerolinmek Piah, confirmed that most individuals deported from the United States to Liberia will hail from Latin American nations, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Colombia.
The West African country expects its first flight carrying 20 deportees on Thursday as part of a new agreement to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees over the next 12 months.
Although the US State Department withheld specifics regarding nationalities, Liberia’s government previously noted that the deportees would arrive from African and Western Hemisphere countries.
Many third-country deportees previously secured US legal protections against direct repatriation due to risks of torture or abuse in their home nations.
While civil rights groups criticise the opacity of these arrangements, Washington maintains that the deportation agreements strictly comply with the law.
Liberian authorities plan to welcome the deportees as guests, granting them the freedom to depart or apply for asylum locally.
The International Organisation for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency will assist in providing essential services upon arrival.
Although Liberia is not seeking direct compensation, the US awarded the country $5 million this year to strengthen its migration management system and support the programme.
