VZCZCXRO5621
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0822/01 3160725
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120725Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1455
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0548

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000822 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
PRETORIA FOR DHS ATTACHE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KCRM ASEC PREL PGOV PHUM LI
SUBJECT:  GOL AGREES TO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ACCEPTING DEPORTEES 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  After a productive meeting on October 27, the 
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice confirmed that the GOL is 
prepared to receive 28 deportees in January 2010, and agreed to the 
drafting a Memorandum of Understanding with the USG outlining 
procedures for the return of deportees.  While not specifically 
agreeing to lift their declared one-year moratorium, they indicated 
that an MOU could address their concerns.  Post requests further 
guidance on possibilities for assistance and advice on MOJ 
conditions for the return of deportees (please see para 13).  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Visiting DHS regional officer Abraham Lugo and DHS/ICE 
Detention and Deportation Officer Dana Day, along with DCM, P/E 
COUNS and RSO, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Olubanke 
King-Akerele and Minister of Justice Christiana Tah on October 27 in 
an attempt to resolve differences in allowing the deportation of 
Liberians convicted of felonies in the U.S.  Also attending the 
meeting were MFA Legal Counselor Krubo Kollie and MFA Advisor 
Chessen as well as Bureau of Immigration (BIN) and Naturalization 
Commissioner Chris Massaquoi and Deputy Commissioner Abla Williams. 
 
Moratorium Request Creates Impasse 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Liberia had requested in diplomatic notes sent to the 
Embassy and the Department a "moratorium" of one year to allow 
Liberia to "strengthen and capacitate [its] security forces, and to 
implement effective SOPs including tracking and monitoring systems, 
recruiting and training of counselors, construction of facilities to 
house potential recidivists, and to seek and obtain funding for 
these recidivists." 
 
¶4. (SBU) At the same time, the diplomatic notes said the government 
would allow the return of a number of deportees that had finished 
their sentences in the U.S.  The note from the MFA said 28 (the note 
from the embassy said 26) but refused the return of 16 deportees who 
had not "completed the term of sentence imposed by the United States 
Court, or the jacket of the individual is incomplete with respect to 
criminal history."  Neither note provided a list of names of those 
cleared for return, and the list provided by the Liberian Embassy 
was missing a page. 
 
Meeting Moves Issue Forward 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The DCM opened the meeting by noting that we had reached an 
impasse on deportations, and the visit by the DHS officials was to 
engage in direct dialogue to come to an understanding.  The USG 
could not accept a one year moratorium, but was willing to work with 
the GOL to address its concerns. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Minister King-Akerele said that the request for a 
moratorium should not be construed as the GOL refusing to accept its 
nationals, but that given the fragile post-conflict environment, 
they must be returned in a manner that will not create instability. 
Minister Tah added there were severe public safety issues that need 
to be addressed before receiving these criminal elements. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Minister Tah explained her view that if Liberians are 
deported without completing their sentence (including 
parole/probation) the GOL would be required to respond if the person 
violated parole while in Liberia.  Day said that no such 
conditionality was placed on the GOL for accepting the return. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Day explained that that it was his understanding that the 
GOL had originally preferred large group returns as being more 
efficient for them.  However, if the GOL has now determined that the 
security considerations of large returns outweigh the logistical 
advantages, then DHS could consider sending refugees in smaller 
groups, either commercially or by charter for those deemed too 
dangerous for commercial flights.  He warned that such a change in 
policy would require a change in the procedures the Liberian Embassy 
uses to document the deportees.  The Foreign Minister agreed to 
discuss the matter further within the GOL. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Regarding providing complete criminal history, Day pointed 
out that DHS does not have ready access to that information, and 
does not ordinarily provide that information as part of the jacket, 
but has been endeavoring to do so in the case of Liberia in order to 
honor its request.  However, the activity is extremely labor 
intensive and he could not guarantee he could provide the complete 
information in every case. 
 
Meeting Outcome 
--------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) After presenting each side's position, the two sides 
agreed to the following: 
 
 
MONROVIA 00000822  002 OF 002 
 
 
--  The Liberians agreed to provide a definitive list of the 28 
deportees they were ready to accept. (Note:  The BIN provided a list 
to the Embassy the next day.  End Note)  They also agreed to the DHS 
proposal for a return in January. 
 
--  DHS agreed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding to codify 
procedures for removals, perhaps to be concluded soon after the 
return of the 28 deportees in January.  The Liberians indicated that 
with a satisfactory MOU, the GOL might drop its request for a 
moratorium. 
 
--  DHS agreed to provide more information on voluntary returns, 
within the limits of U.S. law. 
 
--  DHS agreed to provide as much criminal history on the deportees 
as possible, understanding that DHS will have some limitations. 
 
--  The Embassy agreed to continue to look for assistance for the 
MOJ in creating a probation tracking system, with the understanding 
that such assistance should not be linked to lifting the 
moratorium. 
 
--  The Liberians agreed to provide their preference on large-scale 
versus small-scale returns, and to provide a more precise 
description of the reforms they believe they must make before 
receiving all deportees. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Left on the table were: 
 
--  Liberia's request for a one-year moratorium; 
 
--  Provision of jackets with complete criminal history; 
 
--  Liberia's insistence on sentences (including parole/probation) 
being completed before deportation can occur. 
 
Possible Sources of Assistance 
------------------------------ 
 
¶12. (SBU) Post believes that some assistance can be provided to the 
MOJ to create a parole system through the INL-funded Justice Sector 
Support for Liberia program.  Also discussed during the meeting was 
the possibility of using an NGO to assist in resettling the 
returnees.  While we made no commitment to funding such an effort, 
we believe a short-term project may both improve conditions for 
these returns as well as for other voluntary or involuntary 
returns. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Post requests guidance on models used elsewhere for the 
return of deportees or other involuntary returns.  We understand the 
Catholic Relief Services was contracted in El Salvador for a similar 
operation.  We also seek guidance on Minister Tah's thinking about 
deportees needing to complete their sentences (including 
parole/probation) before Liberia agrees to accept them. 
 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD