- President Boakai has arrange a particular committee to analyze rising issues of a doable US journey ban on Liberians
- The Government Mansion says the President chaired the primary assembly of the physique on Wednesday
- On the coronary heart of the potential ban is the overstay of Liberians within the U.S.
- The nation has one of many highest overstay charges on the earth, based on the U.S. Homeland Safety Division
- The proposed record of 36 international locations to face the ban additionally contains different key U.S. allies—Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and The Gambia
By Anthony Stephens, senior correspondent with New Narratives
President Joseph Boakai has set up a high-level job drive in response to reviews that Liberia could possibly be amongst dozens of nations focused in a proposed United States journey ban. The transfer comes amid mounting issues over the nation’s unusually excessive charge of visa overstays.
The seven-member physique, chaired by President Boakai and co-led by Madam Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the International Minister, convened for the primary time on Wednesday on the Government Mansion, based on a launch from the Mansion. The Ministries of Justice, Well being, and State for Presidential Affairs, together with the Liberia Nationwide Police, the Nationwide Safety Company, and the Workplace of the Nationwide Safety Advisor, are additionally represented, it mentioned.
The Mansion mentioned throughout the assembly, the physique “developed a joint “multi-sectoral” work plan aimed toward addressing the issues comprehensively and with urgency.”
This previous weekend, The Washington Put up, a U.S. media outlet, mentioned it had obtained a memo by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump that included Liberia on a list of 36 international locations whose residents could possibly be banned from touring to the U.S. The record reportedly additionally contains shut U.S. companions in West Africa, similar to Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.
On the coronary heart of the priority is Liberia’s visa overstay charge—one of many highest globally, based on a 2023 report from the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety. The report discovered that roughly one in 4 Liberians who entered america on a visa failed to go away when it expired.
“Implementation of the work plan will probably be carried out in shut collaboration with the U.S. Authorities,” the Government Mansion mentioned. “President Boakai highlighted his Administration’s dedication to upholding good governance, the rule of regulation, and Liberia’s longstanding partnership with america.”
Some Liberian journalists who just lately traveled to the U.S. mentioned that they had approached by members of the diaspora encouraging them to overstay their visas. Consultants say the problem underlines the deep socioeconomic pressures going through many Liberians overseas and at residence.
Minister Nyanti, in WhatsApp messages to FrontPage Africa/New Narratives, said that the overstay matter was being handled with urgency.
“We’re participating on the problems of which we’re knowledgeable that the Liberian overstay charge is without doubt one of the highest,” she mentioned.
Information of the proposed ban has prompted criticism at residence, with residents calling on the federal government to do extra to create financial alternatives, appeal to international investments, decrease the price of dwelling, and enhance job prospects—measures thry say are essential to deterring irregular migration.
This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as a part of the Investigating Liberia venture. Funding was offered by the Swedish embassy in Liberia which had no say within the story’s content material.
