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MONROVIA-OCTOBER 27, 2025: Liberians are said to be struggling for better understanding, let alone accepting the government of Liberia’s decision to take in Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia on what it called “temporary basis.”
The Government last Friday announced that it would accept Mr. Garcia on its soil on temporary basis, tacitly confirming what was earlier denied.
The decision which comes about three months after the issue was reported and subsequently rebuffed by the government is seen as potential outcome of US President Donald Trump pressure on President Joseph Boakai.
Recall that President Trump early July hosted five African leaders including President Boakai to a three-day summit at the White House.
The guests also included the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Senegal – all countries with small populations and economies.
The meetings were said to be centered around Trump’s “trade, not aid” policy, and it came at the time the concerned nations were facing 10% tariffs on goods exported to the US, they may be hoping to do deals to negotiate this rate down.
It is at the summit President Trump heaped praises on President Boakai for his good English speaking ability.
Besides the trade and other issues discussed, the meeting was said to have considered issues surrounding Washington’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants in line with the new President’s hostile immigration policy.
It was reported that President Trump and his guests discussed the possibility where some African nations could take in citizens of other nations being deported for various reasons, including visas overstays, lack of proper documents and crimes.
The BBC reported then that Liberia may also be considering a US proposal to accept people deported by the US, including criminals. The country, which has close historical links to America, was reportedly included on a proposed list of countries that the US had approached.
The country, which was brought to its knees by a 14-year civil war and then the devastating Ebola epidemic of a decade ago, is in desperate need of cash as it has been severely affected by US aid cuts.
In particular the impact has been felt by its fragile health system, which had relied on US funding for 48% of its budget.
Upon return to the country, President Boakai indicated that Washington was not imposing its authorities on anybody to take in deportees. He said “The Americans are not forcing anybody, but they want for us to know that this is a concern that they have, and they are asking how… can we help.”
Notwithstanding the clear writings on the wall, the Government denied reports that it has agreed to a U.S. request to receive deported migrants from the United States. The denial followed a Reuters report that President Donald Trump had pressed the five African nations, including Liberia, to serve as destinations for undocumented immigrants.
The Reuters article, published on July 10, cited unnamed sources suggesting that the Trump administration was exploring migration agreements with a handful of African countries as part of its efforts to curb undocumented immigration. The report triggered immediate public concern in Liberia, with questions raised about whether the country, still recovering from economic hardship and a fragile security sector, is equipped to absorb a wave of migrants—particularly those expelled on grounds of criminal behavior in the U.S.
The Executive Mansion said that no formal request has been made by the U.S. government to Liberia on this matter. The Observer quoted press Secretary Kula V. Fofana as saying “The White House has made no such request to the Government of Liberia.
In an interview with FrontPage Africa in Washington, President Boakai opined: “I didn’t get the impression that the Americans were pointing [a] gun at anybody’s head to sign anything. What the Americans are saying is that they have asylum seekers that have been here for years, and they’d like to—those that have been causing problems—they want to send them out of the country to elsewhere.”
He added that “They are not forcing anybody, but they want for us to know that this is a concern that they have, and they are asking how we can contribute; how can we help. And we have to show them that, for the relationship, it’s an equal concern, but it’s something that we have to think about. If and when they begin to ask us, we will know how to respond to it.”
Government’s announcement
“The Government of the Republic of Liberia has announced its decision to receive Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia on a strictly humanitarian and temporary basis, following a formal request from the Government of the United States of America,” the statement said.
It further said this decision was reached after extensive consultations with relevant national and international stakeholders, reflecting Liberia’s enduring commitment to upholding the principles of human dignity, international solidarity, and compassion in times of distress.
Liberia’s actions are guided by both international humanitarian norms and its own longstanding tradition of offering refuge to those in need. As one of Africa’s oldest republics, Liberia has historically extended protection and goodwill to individuals and communities needing assistance, including African freedom fighters and democracy advocates who once found safety on Liberian soil.
In this instance, Liberia’s decision reaffirms its role as a responsible member of the international community and a country that remains committed to humanitarian cooperation anchored in law, due process, and mutual respect among nations.
The Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will continue to engage closely with the U.S. Department of State to ensure that all assurances and arrangements between the two countries are fully observed. The process will be undertaken in strict coordination with competent Liberian security, immigration, and justice authorities, as well as with international partners, to guarantee the highest standards of safety, transparency, and humane treatment.
The implementation of this decision will adhere to the following safeguards: Comprehensive security screening and vetting by the relevant Liberian authorities prior to and upon arrival. Respect for due process and human rights, including access to appropriate legal and procedural protections in keeping with international obligations.
Non-refoulement assurance, ensuring that Mr. Abrego Garcia will not be returned to any country where he may face a substantial risk of persecution, torture, or other serious harm. Coordination with the United Nations and other partners to explore durable and lawful solutions consistent with international law, including potential resettlement or lawful transfer where appropriate.
The Government of Liberia welcomes the United States’ acknowledgment of this humanitarian act and notes that this action was undertaken voluntarily, in good faith, and solely on humanitarian grounds.
This decision underscores the longstanding friendship between Liberia and the United States, built upon shared values of humanity, freedom, and justice. Liberia remains committed to strengthening international partnerships that promote lawful, humane, and sustainable approaches to global protection and humanitarian cooperation. It concluded.
Who is Garcia?
Garcia, Salvadoran national, has been held by ICE since being released from a federal prison in Tennessee for pending human smuggling charges. The departure date is slated for October 31,2025.
According to Reuters, Garcia’s defense team said their client was offered deportation to Costa Rica, where the country agreed to provide amnesty, but the U.S. said they would only allow that if he pleaded guilty to the federal charges in Tennessee.
According to other international news agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been seeking to deport him following allegations of criminal gang association, a claim his lawyers and family have long denied. Originally deported to El Salvador in March, despite a 2019 court order blocking that removal, Abrego Garcia was reportedly sent to the notorious CECOT mega-prison before being returned to the United States in June to face separate human smuggling charges in Tennessee. He has pleaded not guilty.