Liberia Receives First Group of ‘Third Country’ Deportees from U.S.

The West African nation of Liberia welcomed the initial group of ‘third country’ deportees from the United States on Thursday. This group included migrants from various Latin American countries. According to U.S. officials who spoke with CBS News, approximately 20 individuals were part of this deportation.

Despite their arrival, some deportees resisted upon reaching Liberia. A U.S. official reported to CBS News that after landing, a small number of them refused to leave the aircraft. They were initially escorted off but then returned. Their current whereabouts remain unknown.

The plane, operated by Eastern Airlines, arrived at Roberts International Airport in Harbel, near the Liberian capital, Monrovia, on August 20, 2026. This marks Liberia’s participation in the U.S. strategy to deport migrants to third countries, even those with no previous ties to such nations. President Trump’s administration has aimed to crack down on illegal immigration through these measures.

Liberia plans to accept up to 1,200 third country deportees from the U.S. within a year. These individuals will have the opportunity to apply for asylum in Liberia. Among the deportees, efforts are underway to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador and then returned to the U.S. for prosecution related to human smuggling. However, this action is currently blocked by a federal judge in Maryland.

The Trump administration has arranged deportation agreements with various nations, including those in Africa experiencing armed conflict and political instability. These countries include South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Regular deportation flights have also been sent to Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and other cooperating African countries.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns about these deportations, labeling them inhumane and illegal under international law. Activists argue that deportees might be returned to situations of persecution. Despite this criticism, the Trump administration has upheld the legality of these actions, presenting them as a deterrence strategy against illegal immigration.

The focus of the U.S. deportation efforts is on migrants whose countries either limit or refuse U.S. deportations or those who have received legal protections from being returned to their home countries.