By Othello Sarweh Nimely
MONROVIA–Several Liberians have raised concerns over an agreement between the Liberian Government and the United States that will see Liberia accept foreign nationals from the United States, but some are willing to marry them, if the love are willing.
The arrival has generated mixed reactions among Liberians, with some citizens welcoming the newcomers while others are raising concerns about their background and security.
The first group of 20 individuals arrived in Liberia on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as part of the arrangement.
A young street vendor on Randall Street in Monrovia, says she supports the Liberian Government’s decision to allow asylum seekers into the country, saying she have no problem once they will be willing to work.
Lucy Gray told reporters on August 22 that, she would even consider falling in love with some of them once they are willing to work and earn a living.
While Expressing her willingness to welcome the newcomers into Liberian society, she stresses on the vulnerability of Liberian women who are without husband, “Already, most of our men have turned to Zogos. I can even marry them,” lucy said.
Her comments come amid growing public debate over an agreement between the Liberian Government and the United States under which Liberia is expected to accept 1,200 third-country nationals from the U.S.
Also commenting, Alvin Kollie, a local mechanic at a garage on 20th Street in Sinkor, said Liberia should accept the individuals but urged the government to thoroughly scrutinize them before allowing them to settle within communities.
Kollie believes some of the newcomers could make positive contributions to Liberian society, particularly through their skills, knowledge and experience.
“We should accept them, but the government needs to properly screen them before allowing them into our communities,” he said.
However, Musa Kelleh, a resident of Matadi, expressed fear over the arrival of the third-country nationals.
Kelleh questioned whether Liberian authorities have sufficient information about the backgrounds of the individuals being brought into the country.
According to him, some of the individuals could have committed crimes in their countries of origin before fleeing to the United States.
He also expressed concern about Liberia’s security capacity and questioned why the United States, the world superpower, would send the individuals to Liberia.
“Why does America have to send them here?” Kelleh asked. “If the world superpower cannot handle them, can Liberia handle them?”
Meanwhile, Nimba County Senator Samuel G. Kogar has questioned the legitimacy of the agreement, particularly whether it received the required legislative approval.
Senator Kogar raised the issue in a Facebook post, asking whether the arrangement was presented to and approved by both Houses of the Liberian Legislature.
“Was this arrangement brought before both Houses of the Legislature and approved by the required majority?” Kogar asked, citing Article 57 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution.
According to the senator, Article 57 gives the President the authority to conduct Liberia’s foreign affairs and conclude treaties, conventions and similar international agreements, but requires the concurrence of a majority of each House of the Legislature.
Kogar said he was not accusing the government of violating the Constitution but argued that the agreement raises important questions about Liberia’s sovereignty, national security, immigration laws and legislative oversight.
The first 20 individuals, out of the expected 1,200, have already arrived in Liberia and were received by the Liberian Government and its partners. Additional arrivals are expected in the coming days or weeks.
However, questions remain about how the newcomers will be integrated into Liberian communities and whether the government or its partners will provide orientation, vocational training or other forms of support before they are allowed to settle.
The debate has placed the government’s arrangement with the United States under increasing public scrutiny, with citizens expressing different views about the potential economic, social and security implications.
While some Liberians, like Gray, see the newcomers as potential workers and contributors to society, others are calling for stronger screening, transparency and legislative oversight.
As more of the 1,200 individuals are expected to arrive, Liberians remain focused on how the government will manage the arrangement and its long-term impact on the country.
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