US Paid Liberia $5 Million to Take Deportees, Documents Reveal

The U.S. State Department, under the Trump administration, approved a $5 million payment to Liberia in December 2025, with public spending data confirming the payment was made in January 2026. This financial arrangement is tied to a deal for Liberia to accept up to 1,200 third-country migrants deported from the United States, marking a significant expansion of the administration's controversial third-country deportation policy.

The first group of 20 deportees arrived in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, at Roberts International Airport on Thursday, August 20, 2026. These individuals were primarily from Latin American countries, including Venezuela and Cuba, according to The New York Times and other independent reports citing official statements. Liberian Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah confirmed that the total of 1,200 deportees will include nationals from African countries, as well as North and South America and the Caribbean.

What is the Purpose of This Agreement?

The agreement serves the Trump administration's broader goal of ramping up deportations by striking deals with nations willing to take migrants who cannot legally be deported to their home countries. The $5 million payment, categorized as being for “migration management activities” in public spending data, is intended to support Liberia's immigration system and assist the deportees, potentially covering accommodation, food, and vocational training, according to U.S. State Department documents.

Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh stated that most deportees had committed immigration-related violations and offenses. Liberia's President Joseph Boakai's government agreed to the deal, citing Liberia's historical role as a haven for freed slaves and those seeking refuge.

How Does This Deal Compare to Previous Deportation Agreements?

This agreement with Liberia, involving up to 1,200 deportees, stands as one of the largest known third-country deportation deals initiated by the Trump administration. The administration has pursued similar agreements with over 35 countries since the beginning of President Trump's second term, with roughly 23,000 individuals sent to 26 of these nations as of early August 2026. Many of these deals, often described as "shrouded in secrecy," have faced scrutiny from human rights groups who criticize the policy for sending migrants to unfamiliar countries, including some with records of human rights abuses.

A February 2026 report by Senate foreign relations committee Democrats revealed that the Trump administration had paid over $32 million to five governments, some with poor human rights records, to accept about 300 third-country deportees. Specific examples include payments of $1.1 million per person to Rwanda for seven deportees and $7.5 million to Equatorial Guinea for 29 deportees. Other nations with existing agreements include the Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Cameroon, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and the Central African Republic (CAR).

Beyond the $5 million payment, the U.S. has also extended visitor visas for Liberians from 12 to 36 months and pledged an additional $124 million in broader assistance to the country.

What is Liberia's Stance on the Payment?

There is a notable divergence in how the $5 million payment is characterized by U.S. internal documents and Liberian officials. The New York Times, citing U.S. State Department documents, suggests the payment was approved after Liberia indicated it would consider taking migrants, implicitly linking the funds to the deportation agreement. However, the Liberian Ministry of Information, in an August 18, 2026, statement, explicitly denied a "transaction with a quid pro quo," stating, "Liberia has not demanded or received any compensation or promise of reward in exchange for its consent to participate in the program." While denying a direct payment for accepting deportees, Liberia has acknowledged it "will receive support to help manage the program and strengthen its migration system." A U.S. State Department representative declined to comment on the veracity of allegedly leaked documents, though a general statement affirmed the agency's commitment to ending illegal immigration and bolstering border security, making Trump administration immigration policies a "top priority."

U.S. State Department documents also acknowledged the risk of the $5 million funds being misused in Liberia.

What Happens Next for the Deportees?

Liberia is prepared to receive up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the U.S. over the next year. Upon arrival, these deportees will be allowed to apply for asylum and are "free to depart the country when they so desire." The International Organization for Migration and the United Nations refugee agency are expected to provide services and support for the arriving individuals. This policy comes as other migration agreements face challenges; in August 2026, 36 African migrants deported from the United States to Cameroon filed a lawsuit seeking to suspend the migration agreement between Cameroon and Washington.