Monrovia — Dozens of Liberian nationals convicted of serious crimes in the United States have been arrested in a sweeping series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and now face imminent deportation, with nine expected to arrive in Liberia on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the process.
By Jaheim Tumu, Jaheim.tumu@frotpageafricaonline.com
The arrests are part of Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement campaign launched by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) targeting what officials describe as the “worst of the worst” criminal undocumented immigrants across several states, including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.
In a strongly worded statement, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at DHS, said the operation focused on individuals convicted of violent and sexual crimes, including offenses against children.
“Yesterday, our law enforcement arrested monsters who sexually abused and raped children. These are the type of sickos we are getting out of our neighborhoods,” McLaughlin said. “If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and remove you from our country.”
Liberians Among Those Arrested
DHS confirmed that Liberian nationals are among those detained. Officials released names and photographs of several individuals taken into custody, highlighting extensive criminal histories.
Those identified include Blayon Lawrence Yuoh, described as a Liberian national convicted of rape, sexual assault, robbery, larceny, assault, obstructing police, and possession of stolen property; Hassan Kromah, arrested in Philadelphia and convicted of rape and failure to register as a sex offender; Monica Zota, convicted of fraud; and Victor Pyne, arrested in Phoenix, Arizona, with convictions including sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor.
It is not established whether the deportees form part of a broader enforcement push that has resulted in more than 2,500 detentions across the Minneapolis–St. Paul area and beyond since late 2025.
Liberian Government Aware of Deportations
The Liberian government has yet to issue an official statement on the arrests and impending deportations. However, a government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that authorities are aware of nine Liberians scheduled for deportation this week.
The source noted that Liberia receives deportees from the United States annually, though the scale and publicity surrounding the current enforcement surge are unusually high.
Legal Challenges and Controversy
While DHS maintains the operation targets violent repeat offenders, civil liberties groups and local officials have raised concerns about the scope and methods of the enforcement actions, particularly in sanctuary jurisdictions.
One high-profile case involves Garrison Gibson, a 37-year-old Liberian immigrant in Minnesota, who was arrested during the operation, released by court order, re-arrested, and released again within 48 hours.
A U.S. District Judge, Jeffrey Bryan, ruled that Gibson’s initial arrest violated the Fourth Amendment, finding that ICE agents forcibly entered his home without consent or a judicial warrant. In his ruling, the judge ordered Gibson’s immediate release, declaring the detention unlawful.
Court records show Gibson fled Liberia’s civil war as a child and has lived in the U.S. for years under an order of supervision, complying with regular check-ins and monitoring requirements.
Video footage of Gibson’s arrest — showing heavily armed agents using a battering ram to enter his home — circulated widely online, intensifying public scrutiny of ICE’s tactics. Gibson’s wife, Teyana Brown, said agents failed to present a judicial warrant before entering their home and left their residence damaged.
Despite DHS claims that Gibson had a “lengthy rap sheet,” the court found that immigration officials failed to follow proper procedures before revoking his supervision status.
Heightened Scrutiny of ICE Tactics
The Gibson case has become a flashpoint amid growing debate over federal immigration enforcement, particularly the legality of home entries, use of force, and protections afforded to long-term residents under supervision.
Speaking publicly, Gibson said he will continue fighting deportation to Liberia, a country he has not visited since fleeing as a child.
Meanwhile, DHS insists the operation is necessary to protect public safety, while critics argue the aggressive tactics risk undermining constitutional protections and eroding trust within immigrant communities.
As deportations proceed, attention is now focused on how Liberia will receive those removed and whether Monrovia will formally engage Washington over the handling of Liberian nationals caught in the crackdown.
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