US Approved $5 Million for Liberia Amid Deportation Deal

The United States approved a $5 million payment to Liberia in connection with an agreement allowing Washington to send migrants to the West African country, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. Liberia agreed to accept up to 1,200 deportees over the next year, with the first group arriving in Monrovia this month. The payment was drawn from a migration and refugee assistance fund and could support Liberia’s immigration system, shelters, food, and job training. The arrangement gives the Trump administration another mechanism for accelerating deportations while providing Liberia with resources to manage additional migrants. However, the deal has generated scrutiny because Liberian officials previously said they had received no compensation. Human rights groups argue that such third-country arrangements undermine refugee protections and expose migrants to unfamiliar environments.