US start deportations to Liberia, EU has similar plans
In the media image: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
The United States is deporting migrants to Liberia, even when they have no links to the country. Mark Klaassen spoke to Dutch broadcaster NOS: ‘Though legally possible, it raises questions about legal safeguards and human rights.’
The first twenty migrants arrived in Liberia from the United States last week. In exchange for millions of dollars, Liberia has agreed to receive a total of 1,200 people deported by the US this year. These include migrants from Cuba and Venezuela. According to Assistant Professor Mark Klaassen, deportation to a third country is legally possible. It is, however, subject to important conditions. ‘The US may deport people to a third country, but only on the condition that they will not face human rights violations in the destination country. Migrants must also be able to challenge their deportation before US authorities.’
Klaassen sees parallels with the European Union’s plans for migrant ‘return hubs’ outside the EU. For the migrants deported by the US to Liberia, returning to their countries of origin is generally not an option as their home countries are unwilling to take them back. This differs from the EU’s plans. Migrants in that scenario would remain in a third country outside the EU while awaiting return to their country of origin. According to Klaassen, the new EU Return Regulation currently serves primarily as a framework. The practical implementation of these plans will depend on future agreements between EU Member States and third countries. Klaassen: ‘It is conceivable that we will eventually see deals similar to those made by the US.’
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Read the full NOS article (in Dutch)