Third Batch of US Deportees Arrives in Freetown Under Controversial TCNA Deal

The third group of third-country nationals deported from the United States has arrived in Sierra Leone under the Third Country National Agreement (TCNA), landing at Freetown International Airport on July 31, 2026.

The latest batch comprises 10 ECOWAS nationals, including six Ghanaians, one Liberian, one Beninese, one Nigerian, and one Togolese. Authorities confirmed that nine of the arrivals are male and one is female.

Upon arrival, the individuals underwent mandatory immigration, health, and security screening coordinated by multiple state institutions, including the Sierra Leone Police, the Office of National Security, the Sierra Leone Immigration Department, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Following the completion of these procedures, the group was transferred to Kenvah Solutions (SL) Ltd, the private firm contracted by the government to manage reception and care services under the agreement.

With this latest arrival, Sierra Leone has now received a total of 32 individuals under the TCNA since the programme commenced in May 2026. Of these, 22 from the first and second groups have already been repatriated to their respective countries after completing documentation and consular processes.