Published: October 24, 2025
MONROVIA — The Government of Liberia has confirmed that it will temporarily receive Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national at the center of a high-profile U.S. immigration case, on strictly humanitarian and temporary grounds following a formal request from Washington.
In a statement issued Friday, October 24, 2025, through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), the government said the decision was reached “after extensive consultations with relevant national and international stakeholders,” underscoring Liberia’s “enduring commitment to human dignity, international solidarity, and compassion in times of distress.”
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.
According to U.S. court filings cited by ABC News, DHS told a Tennessee judge that Liberia had “agreed to accept” Abrego Garcia after previous attempts to deport him to Uganda, Eswatini, and Ghana fell through. Costa Rica, his attorneys say, has offered to receive him as a refugee.
Humanitarian Cooperation and Diplomatic Oversight
Liberia’s acceptance, the government clarified, is not a permanent resettlement but a temporary humanitarian arrangement made “in good faith” and in line with international law. The Ministry emphasized that the decision “reaffirms Liberia’s role as a responsible member of the international community and a country committed to humanitarian cooperation anchored in law, due process, and mutual respect among nations.”
To ensure transparency and accountability, the Boakai administration outlined several safeguards governing Abrego Garcia’s temporary stay:
- Comprehensive vetting and security screening by Liberian authorities before and upon arrival.
- Full respect for due process and human rights, including access to legal protections.
- Adherence to the international principle of non-refoulement, ensuring he is not returned to any country where he faces persecution or harm.
- Continued coordination with the United Nations and other partners to explore durable and lawful resettlement options.
The Liberian government also indicated that all implementation will be handled “in strict coordination with competent security, immigration, and justice authorities,” with oversight from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in consultation with the U.S. Department of State.
A Historical Continuity
The government says its decision is consistent with Liberia’s historical identity as a haven for displaced or persecuted individuals. Since its founding in 1847, the West African republic has hosted African freedom fighters, political exiles, and democracy advocates from across the continent.
“This decision,” Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah said in the release, “underscores the longstanding friendship between Liberia and the United States, built upon shared values of humanity, freedom, and justice.”
U.S.–Liberia Relations Tested but Intact
According to filings from the U.S. Department of Justice, Liberia was selected partly because it is “a thriving democracy committed to the humane treatment of refugees.” The United States formally acknowledged Monrovia’s humanitarian gesture and pledged to uphold all bilateral assurances tied to Abrego Garcia’s transfer.
Still, Abrego Garcia’s legal team has criticized the move as “an act of unnecessary cruelty.” Attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg said DHS appears “to be running out of options” after “striking out with Uganda, Eswatini, and Ghana” and now turning to Liberia—“a country with which Mr. Abrego Garcia has no connection, thousands of miles from his family and home in Maryland.”
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