Twenty deportees from the United States arrived in Liberia Thursday. They landed at Roberts International Airport near Monrovia, Liberia.

This was the first group of US deportees sent there. The United States and Liberia have signed a deportation deal.

Under the deal Liberia will receive 1200 migrants total. The migrants come from Africa, North America, South America and the Caribbean.

Liberia's Justice Minister Natu Oswald Tweh discussed the deal. He said most deportees had migration-related violations or offenses.

He said they could seek asylum in Liberia. The US State Department declined to answer detailed questions.

It defended its immigration policies instead. Critics in Liberia say their government has not explained the deal.

They question why leaders agreed to it and who the deportees are. They also want to know how deportees will be treated.

Immigration lawyers warn sending deportees to other countries can be risky. This could expose them to unsafe conditions or forced return.