𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒𝐀

The deportees were escorted by representatives of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and welcomed upon arrival by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, along with members of ONS, SLP, RSLAF, SLCAA, FIA, and the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone. After undergoing profiling by Sierra Leone Immigration and TOCU at the airport, the deportees were taken to a designated holding center in Lungi, monitored by the Sierra Leone Police. They were temporarily housed in a rented hotel in the Robis Community.

The government of Sierra Leone successfully repatriated all nine deportees back to their respective countries. As of June 3, 2026, no deportees remained at the holding center in Lungi. According to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a second batch of deportees is expected to arrive soon. A senior government official commented to Tablet Newspaper, “We are simply hosting them here for a few days to facilitate their onward journey to their home countries.”

This process falls under the Third Country National Arrangement (TCNA) established between the United States and Sierra Leone, allowing Sierra Leone to temporarily accommodate up to 300 West African migrants deported from the U.S. each year. This arrangement, approved by the Sierra Leonean Cabinet in March 2026, serves as a transit mechanism to facilitate the repatriation of these migrants to their home nations.

Deportees must be citizens of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states, including Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, and Senegal. A maximum of 25 deportees can be processed each month, totalling 300 annually.

The arrangement does not provide for permanent settlement or asylum. Deportees are hosted in a temporary facility for a standard period of 14 days, which can be extended up to 30 days under special circumstances. Under ECOWAS protocols, citizens can remain within member states for a maximum of 90 days.

The U.S. government has allocated a $1.5 million grant to cover humanitarian and operational expenses related to this program. These funds are managed by a local contractor, Kenvah Solutions (SL), responsible for providing housing, food, and healthcare services to the deportees upon arrival