Latin American Migrants Sent from the U.S. to Liberia Stranded in West Africa
U.S. immigration authorities have deported Latin American migrants, including some with legal protections, to Liberia, a country with which they have no ties.
U.S. immigration authorities have deported Latin American migrants—including individuals who had won legal protection out of fear of persecution in their home countries—to the West African nation of Liberia.
Migrants Stranded in Liberia
None of the deported individuals housed in a three-story coastal hotel in Liberia are Liberian citizens, and many are not even from the African continent.
Arrivals from Various Countries
These individuals, originating from Latin American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela, as well as other African nations like Cameroon and Eritrea, have been sent to Liberia.
Deportations Despite Legal Protections
Many of the migrants who agreed to be interviewed had won legal protection in U.S. immigration courts on the grounds that they would face persecution or torture if returned to their home countries.
Agreement with the Liberian Government
The Liberian government announced in August that it had approved accepting up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the U.S.
First Flight and State of Uncertainty
Under the agreement, a flight on August 20 brought 15 non-Liberian individuals into the country; while these individuals are not being detained, they feel trapped.