U.S. Agreed to Pay Liberia $5 Million in Connection with Deportees, Documents Say
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-08-21 20:32:00 — www.nytimes.com
President Trump’s Push for Mass Deportations Includes Secretive $5 Million Payment to Liberia
President Trump has pledged to carry out the largest deportation program in history, a promise that has driven his administration to strike controversial deals with dozens of countries—including a secretive $5 million payment to Liberia to accept migrants from the United States, according to internal State Department documents reviewed by The New York Times.
Opaque Deals and Human Rights Concerns
The Trump administration has ramped up deportations by making arrangements with nations willing to take migrants who cannot legally be returned to their home countries, often because of the risk of persecution. These so-called third-country deportation deals have largely been negotiated behind closed doors, drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Critics argue that sending migrants to unfamiliar countries, some with poor human rights records, undermines international refugee protections.
Liberia Deal Raises Questions
Liberia recently announced it would accept up to 1,200 deportees over the next year, one of the largest such deals under Trump. The first group of deportees arrived in Monrovia on Thursday. State Department documents reveal that the $5 million payment to Liberia was approved in December, following Liberia’s commitment to consider accepting migrants from other nations. The funds, drawn from the U.S. migration and refugee assistance fund, are intended to support Liberia’s immigration system and vulnerable migrants, including providing shelter, food, and job training.
However, the documents reviewed by The New York Times appear to contradict Liberia’s official statement, which claimed the country had not “demanded or received any compensation or promise of reward” for accepting deportees. Public spending data confirms the $5 million payment in January for “migration management activities,” but does not explicitly link it to the deportation deal.
Administration’s Justification and Risks
The Trump administration has justified these payments as necessary to fulfill its deportation goals. State Department officials acknowledged the risk of misuse of funds but said they would attempt to mitigate this through reporting requirements and monitoring.
The administration has reached similar deals with more than 35 countries, including Equatorial Guinea, which received a $7.5 million payment to take deportees. These payments have raised concerns among lawmakers about the use of taxpayer dollars for such purposes.
Impact on Migrants and International Protections
Human rights groups warn that these deals pressure migrants to leave the United States voluntarily, fearing they will be sent to countries where they have no ties and may face detention or other hardships. Becca Heller of the International Refugee Assistance Project described the administration’s strategy as making conditions so harsh that migrants would prefer to return to their countries of origin rather than face deportation to unfamiliar nations.
Conclusion
President Trump’s commitment to mass deportations has led to a series of secretive and controversial international agreements, including multimillion-dollar payments to countries like Liberia. These deals have sparked criticism for their lack of transparency, potential misuse of funds, and the risks they pose to vulnerable migrants. As the administration continues to pursue its deportation agenda, questions remain about the long-term impact on international refugee protections and the ethical use of U.S. taxpayer money.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/us/politics/us-liberia-deportees-payment.html