Monrovia, Liberia — The Angie Brooks International Centre for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security (ABIC) is calling on the Liberian government to ensure transparency and broad public consultation in implementing the Migration and Refugees Agreement with the United States.
In a statement released Thursday, ABIC acknowledged the longstanding relationship between Liberia and the United States and the humanitarian considerations behind the agreement, which entered into force on September 10, 2025. The agreement allows the U.S. government to transfer non-Liberian nationals to Liberia for the examination of protection claims.
ABIC said Liberians will legitimately ask how receiving additional non-Liberian nationals will affect already limited national resources, given the country’s ongoing challenges with poverty, unemployment, food insecurity and pressure on healthcare, housing and other public services.
The Centre raised questions including who will support the transferred individuals, whether they will be permitted to work, how long they may remain, and what happens when external financial support ends.
ABIC also emphasized Liberia’s sovereign responsibility to independently vet anyone entering its territory through its immigration and national security institutions. It stressed that this should not be interpreted as presuming those being transferred are criminals, but rather as a fundamental duty of any sovereign nation receiving foreign nationals.
“These are not questions of hostility toward the people being received,” the statement said. “They are legitimate public-policy questions that should be addressed in order to protect both Liberian communities and the individuals being transferred.”
ABIC called for an assessment of the agreement’s potential social and economic impact, along with a clear government communication strategy.
ABIC urged the government to clearly explain what Liberia stands to gain from the arrangement, including the nature and duration of U.S. support for implementation and any lasting benefits such as strengthened immigration and border management, security capacity, infrastructure, professional training or employment opportunities for Liberians.
“This would help reassure the public that Liberia is not simply assuming another country’s immigration responsibilities but is participating in an arrangement that also protects and advances Liberia’s national interest,” the statement said.
Noting that the agreement provides mechanisms for amendment, suspension and termination, ABIC described the transfer arrangement as “a significant and unprecedented undertaking” — the first of its kind and magnitude in Liberia’s recent history.
The Centre recommended a broader national consultation involving experts in constitutional and international law, immigration and refugee protection, international relations, national security, public health, economics, employment, public finance, human rights and social cohesion.
“Such consultation should not be viewed as opposition to the Agreement or criticism of the Administration,” ABIC said, adding that it would provide the government with additional expertise to identify potential difficulties early and recommend safeguards.
ABIC warned that uncertainty, economic frustration and lack of reliable information can become drivers of rumor, fear and social tension, citing its experience in peacebuilding.
The Centre recommended that the government:
- Undertake a multidisciplinary review and broader consultation with Liberian experts and relevant institutions;
- Assess the agreement’s social, economic and security impact, particularly on employment, housing, healthcare, public services and host communities;
- Clearly explain what Liberia gains, including financial support and lasting investment in immigration, border security, infrastructure, training and institutional capacity; and
- Maintain open public communication regarding the legal status of transferred persons, their protection, the duration and financing of the program, and safeguards for Liberian communities.
Where the review identifies provisions that may not adequately protect Liberia’s interests, ABIC said the government should consider using the agreement’s own mechanisms for amendment, suspension or termination.
ABIC said Liberia can fulfill its humanitarian responsibilities while protecting its national interest, maintain its historic friendship with the United States while examining the arrangement through Liberian eyes, and protect the dignity of those transferred while recognizing the economic realities facing Liberian families.
“ABIC’s purpose in raising these matters is therefore preventive and constructive: to help Government identify potential difficulties before they become sources of public resentment, misunderstanding, division or instability,” the statement said.
The Centre said it stands ready to contribute its experience in peacebuilding, preventive diplomacy, public sensitization and community engagement to the national effort. The statement was signed by Cllr. Dr. Yvette Chesson-Gibson, Executive Director, and H.E. Olubanke King-Akerele, Chair of the Board.
