ICE Deportees in Liberia Describe Stranded Existence ‘On the Other Side of the World’

MONROVIA, Liberia — A group of Latin American migrants, recently flown to West Africa by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), describe a profound sense of isolation and legal limbo after arriving in Liberia, a country most had never heard of.

These individuals, housed in a three-story hotel in a coastal area of the Liberian capital, are not Liberian citizens. Their origins span several Latin American nations, including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela, alongside African countries such as Cameroon and Eritrea. They were deported last month as part of an expanding strategy under President Donald Trump’s administration to remove individuals without legal status to distant third countries where they possess no social or familial ties.

CBS News became the first U.S. television network to interview these deportees face-to-face. The subjects reported feeling stateless, trapped far from their families and unable to return to the United States, where many have spouses and children, yet also terrified of being sent back to their home countries due to fears of persecution.

Elvis Rodriguez Venturas, a native of Honduras, expressed his distress to the network. “I’m concerned. I feel far away, on the other side of the world,” he said. Rodriguez Venturas noted that his four children, two of whom hold U.S. citizenship, call him daily asking when he will return to Texas, where he previously worked in construction. Although he entered the U.S. illegally, an immigration judge had previously blocked his deportation to Honduras on grounds that he faced potential harm there, allowing him to work legally until his recent detention.

According to CBS News’ analysis, the majority of the deportees who spoke with the network held some form of legal protection in American courts that barred their return to their home countries. However, under the current administration’s strict immigration enforcement, these protections have not prevented their removal to third nations.

Many of those interviewed claimed they were never informed by ICE that they would be sent to Liberia. “Honestly, I had never heard of Liberia,” said Arin Garcia Yepes, a Colombian immigrant. Rodriguez Venturas agreed, stating, “I didn’t even know it existed.”

Paola Ferreira Dos Santos, a 21-year-old Brazilian woman and the only Latin American female deportee in the group, revealed she was unaware of her destination until the plane touched down in Monrovia on August 20. “I was the first to get off the plane, and they said, ‘Welcome to Liberia. You’re in Africa,'” she recounted.

While the Trump administration characterizes its deportation efforts as targeting the “worst of the worst” criminals, CBS News reviewed records for those deported to Liberia last month and found no criminal charges or convictions for most individuals beyond immigration violations such as illegal entry. The Department of Homeland Security defended the operation, stating in a release, “The Trump Administration is utilizing all lawful options to carry out the largest deportation operation in history, just as President Trump promised.”

Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, recently announced it would accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees, describing the move as a humanitarian effort. To date, only one flight of 15 non-Liberians has arrived. The government has indicated that deportees may apply for asylum, but none of the CBS News interviewees expressed interest in staying permanently, citing poverty, cultural differences, and a lack of work authorization.

Carlos Tellez Sanchez, a Venezuelan national who worked in car sales and food delivery in Dallas before his arrest, remains uncertain of his future. His wife and infant child, who is American-born, remain in Texas. “Returning to Venezuela is not an option for me,” Sanchez said. “I feel I could be in danger if I return to my home country.”

Unlike some other partner nations that have detained U.S. deportees, Liberia has not jailed the arrivals. However, the deportees have been advised to stay within the vicinity of their hotel for safety. The International Organization for Migration has stepped in to provide basic necessities, though the migrants remain effectively stranded.