[By Pewu Y. Sumo]
Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia has announced its decision to receive the high-profile Salvadoran migrant, 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 decision, made public today, October 24, 2025, in a press release signed by Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti follows a period of “extensive consultations with relevant national and international stakeholders.” The timing of the announcement comes as the U.S. government notified a federal judge in Maryland today of its intent to deport Mr. Abrego Garcia to Liberia as soon as October 31.
This move by Monrovia follows the widely reported rejection of Mr. Abrego Garcia by at least three other African nations—Uganda, Eswatini, and the West African neighbor, Ghana—who declined to receive him from the U.S.
The Liberian government frames the move as a reaffirmation of its commitment to human dignity, international solidarity, and its “longstanding tradition of offering refuge to those in need,” citing a history of extending protection to African freedom fighters and democracy advocates.
International Flashpoint Case
Mr. Abrego Garcia’s case has become a flashpoint in the U.S. immigration debate. News reports identify him as a Salvadoran national who had been living legally in the U.S. with a grant of “withholding of removal” status (a protection barring his return to El Salvador due to a fear of persecution from gangs).
Despite this protection, he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March 2025 by the U.S. government, where he was detained in a notorious maximum-security prison. Following a U.S. Supreme Court order, he was returned to the U.S. in June, only to be immediately charged with human smuggling—charges his lawyers have vehemently called “vindictive.” Since then, U.S. authorities have repeatedly sought to deport him to a third country, most recently floating Eswatini before the current request to Liberia.
Government Assures Due Process
The Liberian government stated that the decision reaffirms the country’s role as a “responsible member of the international community” committed to humanitarian cooperation. The government welcomed the U.S. acknowledgment of this act, emphasizing that it was undertaken “voluntarily, in good faith, and solely on humanitarian grounds,” underscoring the “longstanding friendship” between the two nations.
To address the humanitarian and security concerns of this unique transfer, the government outlined strict safeguards, including:
- Comprehensive security screening and vetting by Liberian authorities prior to and upon arrival.
- Respect for due process and human rights, including access to appropriate legal and procedural protections.
- A non-refoulement assurance, ensuring he will not be returned to any country where he faces a substantial risk of persecution or serious harm.
- Coordination with the United Nations and other partners to explore durable and lawful solutions, such as potential resettlement.
Despite the government’s insistence that the stay is temporary and strictly for humanitarian purposes, critics are viewing the move as “dangerous” given the multiple African states that previously refused the U.S. request to accept Mr. Abrego Garcia.
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