More than two dozen individuals deported from the United States to Liberia last month have reported harsh treatment during their removal process, describing prolonged shackling, denial of medical care, physical abuse, and emotional distress. The flight marked the first in a series of deportations expected to send around 1,200 people to Liberia in the coming year under an expanded third-country deportation program by the U.S. government.

Among the deportees was Leonardo Sánchez, a 49-year-old Cuban who said he endured significant pain during the flight from Louisiana to West Africa due to a chain around his waist pressing on his abdomen—a vulnerable area resulting from previous surgeries and injuries. Despite his pleas for medical help and permission to use the bathroom, he said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents refused assistance, causing him to wet himself. Sánchez and other deportees reported being unaware of their destination until shortly before the flight, prompting panic among some passengers.

Several deportees recounted incidents of physical violence, including being slammed to the ground, beaten, and restrained with handcuffs tightened to the point of causing cuts and bruises. Some said they were forcibly removed from the plane upon arrival in Monrovia, with ICE officers using force including kneeling on detainees and twisting handcuffs. Sánchez and others alleged that ICE agents knelt on his abdomen during these confrontations. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied these allegations, asserting that detainees were fit to fly, received appropriate medical attention, and were not subjected to such treatment. DHS also stated that no detainees were denied bathroom access during flights or detention.

Advocates for immigrant rights and several deportees criticized the expanding third-country deportation program, which sends individuals who cannot be returned to their countries of origin or who refuse to go back, to nations where they have no ties and often do not speak the language. Legal experts have raised concerns about the program’s legality; a federal judge declared it unlawful earlier this year, though an appeals court has permitted the government to continue the practice while reviewing the case.

Among the deportees was Carlos Téllez-Sanchez, a Venezuelan who had resided in the U.S. for five years under a court order shielding him from deportation. He described enduring verbal abuse and repeated transfers between detention centers, a tactic his lawyer characterized as psychological warfare aimed at disrupting detainees’ legal challenges. Téllez-Sanchez and others said they had been detained in overcrowded facilities, with some held for days in extremely cold rooms lacking beds, which they called “the freezer.”

Upon arrival in Liberia, most deportees were placed in a partly completed hotel under constant guard and told they were free to move but felt constrained. Liberian authorities stated that none of those they have accepted are criminals and that deportees would have the opportunity to apply for residency. Some deportees were subsequently transferred to Equatorial Guinea, where they said they were confined to a hotel, monitored by armed guards, and threatened with violence if they attempted to flee.

Deportees face difficult choices, with some unsure whether to attempt settling in unfamiliar African countries or seek return to nations where they fear persecution. Organizations like the International Organization for Migration have provided support and indicated they would assist deportees with options for returning home or other pathways.

The U.S. government defended its actions as necessary enforcement of immigration laws aimed at combating illegal immigration and crime. Officials emphasized their commitment to reducing mass unauthorized migration while maintaining that detainees receive comprehensive medical care, including dental and mental health services.

The unfolding situation highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding U.S. immigration enforcement policies, particularly the use of third-country deportations amid growing political focus on border security and removal operations.