𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀’𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐔𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒

(𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐚, 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓):- The Government of Liberia is deeply concerned over the start of a crackdown and deport illegal aliens and “criminals” from the United States of America as well as the suspension of USAID’s global activities – including its programs in Liberia which affect health, agriculture, education, rule of law among others.

On Deportation

While the Government of Liberia has not been officially informed about the mass deportation of Liberians in line with the new immigration policies of the US Government, it is aware that four deportees, whose processing commenced long before the Trump administration’s pronouncement regarding mass deportation, will be arriving this week.

Proactively, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has written the US Secretary of State requesting a meeting to dialogue on alternatives to deportation.

The Government of Liberia is also engaging with the US Congress at the state and federal levels to seek alternatives to deportation.

The Government notes that the Embassy of Liberia near Washington convened a virtual meeting with Liberians in the United States which was moderated by Liberia’s Ambassador to the US, Dr. Al Hassan Conteh, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti. The meeting concluded with more active and coordinated responses through diplomatic channels on the mass deportation issue.

At home, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains engaged with the US Ambassador accredited near Monrovia whom the government lauds for his openness in these engagements.

An Inter-Agency Task Force has been activated to plan for any possible mass deportation of Liberians. It is chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and includes the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning, Justice, Internal Affairs and Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism.

Other agencies on the task force are the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, and the Liberia Refugees, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission.

On the Suspension of USAID’s Activities

His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr has mandated sector leads in agriculture, education, health, and rule of law institutions to immediately conduct an impact analysis on the loss of funding from USAID and recommend mitigation plans.

Conclusion

President Boakai and the Government of Liberia are concerned about the welfare of its Liberian citizens whether at home or abroad, and are doing everything possible to work with the country’s traditional partner, the United States, to find a common ground on the deportation issue and the suspension of USAID’s activities in Liberia.

It is important to note, that Liberia has no authority over and above policy decisions of the United States. Liberia can only engage, dialogue, negotiate and adopt strategies and approaches on these matters in the best interest of Liberians.