The United States government is set to deport 1,563 Liberians who have been living in the country under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as part of Trump’s recent Executive Order on illegal immigrants.
The decision also comes as part of the broader immigration policy changes initiated by President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order recently following his inauguration aimed at tightening immigration regulations and ending protections for certain groups.
The impending deportations have since raised questions about the future of Liberians in the U.S. and the implications for their families and communities.
The Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian program that allows individuals from designated countries experiencing ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work in the U.S. without the threat of deportation.
Liberia was granted TPS in 2002 due to the civil war that ravaged the country, as over the years, thousands of Liberians have relied on this status to build lives in the U.S., contributing to the economy and integrating into American society.
However, the Trump administration’s stance on immigration is poised to terminate the TPS for several nationalities, including Liberian citizens.
Right after his inauguration, President Trump signed a number of Executive orders, which included ending Birth rights to children born to non-American parents and deporting illegal Migrants, among others.
But a breakdown from a total of 1,445,549 people to be deported across the world shows Guinea, Ivory Coast, Morocco and others as perspective countries for the massive deportation.
Homeland Security, 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with a final order of removal from the USA (deportation) include Liberians (1,563), Nigerians (3,690), Ghanaians (3,228), Guineans (1,897), Ivorians (1,224), Sierra Leoneans (1,563), Senegalese (1,689), among others.
Meanwhile, many Liberians fear returning to their country, which they said has limited opportunities and ongoing challenges, especially since the economy remains fragile and the social infrastructure is still recovering from years of conflict.
The deportation of Liberians is not just a personal tragedy for those affected; it also has broader implications for the U.S. economy and society, coupled with both country’s bilateral ties.
The deportations also raise ethical questions about the treatment of immigrants and the U.S. commitment to humanitarian principles, with critics arguing that the decision to deport individuals who have lived in the U.S. for years undermines the values of compassion and support for those fleeing violence and instability.