Internal documents reviewed by The New York Times reveal that the Trump administration authorized a $5 million payment to Liberia in connection with an agreement to facilitate the deportation of migrants to the West African nation. The State Department records indicate the rationale behind directing this grant to Liberia, which recently announced its willingness to accept up to 1,200 deportees over the coming year—one of the largest third-country deportation arrangements during the administration’s tenure. The initial group of deportees arrived in the Monrovia metropolitan area on Thursday.
The Trump administration has prioritized accelerating deportations through partnerships with foreign nations willing to accept migrants who cannot be repatriated to their countries of origin, often due to risks of persecution or other vulnerabilities. These so-called third-country deportation agreements have largely operated under secrecy and faced significant criticism from human rights organizations, which have raised concerns about the safety and treatment of individuals placed in unfamiliar destinations, particularly in nations with documented human rights issues.
The State Department approved the Liberian payment in December, following Liberia’s earlier commitment to consider accepting migrants. Liberia assured the United States that deportees would not face persecution based on protected characteristics such as race or religion. According to the documents, the State Department evaluated these assurances as credible and authorized the payment, stating funds could support Liberia’s immigration systems and vulnerable migrant populations through initiatives like shelter, food assistance, and vocational training.
The financial commitment was drawn from the State Department’s migration and refugee assistance fund, which traditionally supports global refugee protection and resettlement efforts. However, the documents reveal discrepancies with Liberia’s public statements: while the government claimed no compensation was exchanged for accepting deportees, it acknowledged receiving support to manage the program. Liberian officials have not responded to inquiries regarding the contradiction between their public statements and the documented financial arrangements.
State Department officials acknowledged potential risks of fund misuse but implemented reporting requirements and monitoring mechanisms to mitigate these concerns. On Friday, the department declined to comment on the authenticity of the allegedly leaked documents. Public financial records confirm a $5 million payment to Liberia in January for “migration management activities,” though this was not explicitly tied to deportation efforts at the time.
Since January 2021, the Trump administration has established third-country deportation agreements with over 35 countries, including the Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Cameroon, and South Sudan, according to advocacy groups Human Rights First and Refugees International. The $7.5 million payment to Equatorial Guinea for accepting deportees drew particular scrutiny, prompting Senator Jeanne Shaheen to question the appropriateness of using taxpayer funds. Critics argue such agreements undermine international refugee protections, leveraging financial incentives and pressure to coerce compliance.
“This represents a significant erosion of humanitarian safeguards,” said Yael Schacher, director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International. “The U.S. is employing a combination of incentives and coercion through these frameworks.” Following the arrival of the first deportation flight to Liberia, five of 20 deportees refused release upon disembarkation and were returned to the aircraft, later transported to Equatorial Guinea. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed all 20 were relocated to “safe third countries,” though specifics about the resisted cases remain unaddressed.
Human rights advocates have criticized the administration’s practice of deporting migrants to nations without familial or community ties, citing opaque partnerships that may expose individuals to detention conditions or persecution. Becca Heller of the International Refugee Assistance Project argued the strategy aims to create deterrence by making life in the U.S. intolerable for migrants, pressuring voluntary return to origin countries. “The message is clear: ‘Choose between your home country or facing what we’ve created here,’” Heller stated.
Ruth Maclean contributed reporting.
