The Government of Liberia has firmly denied reports that it has agreed to receive deported migrants from the United States, pushing back against growing public concern following a Reuters report suggesting the Trump administration is pressing African countries, including Liberia, to serve as deportation destinations for undocumented immigrants.
Responding to the report, which was published on July 10 and cited unnamed sources in the U.S. government, Presidential Press Secretary Kula V. Fofana issued a brief statement to The Daily Observer, stating:
“The White House has made no such request to the Government of Liberia.”
The Reuters story suggested that Washington was exploring migration agreements with five African nations as part of its crackdown on undocumented immigration, raising immediate alarm in Liberia. Critics argued that the country, still battling economic instability and rebuilding its security institutions, is ill-equipped to absorb large numbers of deportees, especially those expelled on criminal grounds.
Amid the growing controversy, President Joseph N. Boakai, who recently concluded a high-profile visit to Washington, addressed the issue in an interview with FrontPage Africa.
“I didn’t get the impression that the Americans were pointing [a] gun at anybody’s head to sign anything,” the President said.
“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. 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.”
Boakai added that while Liberia has not been formally asked to accept deportees, the government would weigh such a proposal carefully, with national interest and capacity in mind.
“If and when they begin to ask us, we will know how to respond to it,” he said.
Strategic Wins Overshadowed by Migration Rumors
Despite the controversy, the President’s U.S. trip produced significant outcomes. Chief among them was Liberia’s formal request for U.S. assistance in conducting a nationwide geological survey, aimed at mapping the country’s full mineral potential, part of Boakai’s broader push to diversify the economy and attract transparent foreign investment.
This appeal came on the heels of a landmark US$1.8 billion rail access agreement with Ivanhoe Liberia, a U.S.-backed mining company. The deal allows Ivanhoe to transport Guinean iron ore through Liberia to the Port of Buchanan, bypassing Guinea’s Port of Conakry and challenging ArcelorMittal’s long-standing dominance over the Yekepa-Buchanan rail corridor.
Analysts say the agreement positions the United States as a serious player in West Africa’s mineral logistics sector, potentially reshaping the geopolitical balance in the region.
When asked whether Liberia supports U.S. efforts to counter China’s growing influence in Africa, Press Secretary Fofana offered a cautious response:
“Liberia has diplomatic relationships with both the U.S. and China. Those relationships are different. We will deal with each country as per the relationship that we have. Our interest is to engage with multilateral and bilateral partners based on the economic component, trade instead of aid.”
That position echoes Liberia’s long-standing policy of non-alignment, previously championed by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who prioritized mutual interest over geopolitical allegiance. China remains a major investor in Liberia’s infrastructure, while the U.S. has historically led support in health and education.
As Liberia prepares to assume a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2026, there is rising public demand for a principled foreign policy. Many Liberians are calling for greater sovereignty and clarity in the country’s international engagements, particularly around contentious issues like deportation, human rights, and peacekeeping.
This national sentiment was further stoked by a widely circulated offhand comment from former President Donald Trump, who remarked during a closed-door session that President Boakai “speaks such good English.” The comment drew mixed reactions, many Liberians dismissed it as ignorant rather than offensive, noting that Boakai’s education and upbringing reflect a country that once led West Africa in academic excellence.
Boakai, educated entirely in Liberia, is viewed by many as a symbol of the nation’s intellectual legacy, one shaped by institutions that, despite years of conflict and neglect, continue to produce highly capable professionals.
While the U.S. deportation matter remains unresolved, Liberia’s response has been marked by measured diplomacy and national pride. The government has so far resisted pressure to make any hasty decisions that could compromise its social fabric or economic capacity.
Still, as global powers increasingly compete for influence across Africa, Liberia’s challenge will be to balance these relationships without compromising its sovereignty or values.
For now, the message from Monrovia is clear: no deal has been made, and if any such request does come, it will be scrutinized thoroughly.
“We have to think about it,” said Boakai.
“And when that time comes, we’ll know how to respond.”
