ICE Deports Former Liberian Combatant Accused of War-Era Atrocities

Photo credit: Fox News Monrovia — A former Liberian combatant accused by U. S. authorities of involvement in killings, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers during Liberia’s civil wars has been deported from the United States to Liberia after nearly two decades in the country. According to an exclusive report by Fox News, U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported Amos Sheik Massaquoi, 55, to Liberia on August 11, 2026, following years of immigration proceedings in the United States. Massaquoi is believed to have served as chief bodyguard to Maj. Gen. Daniel Chea, a former leader in Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).

According to ICE, Massaquoi is believed to have ordered or participated in extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, forced labor and the recruitment of child soldiers during Liberia’s civil wars between 1989 and 2003. The allegations have been attributed to U. S. authorities and are not presented here as judicial findings against Massaquoi. ICE Chicago Field Office Director Frank Padula said the agency would continue pursuing people suspected of human rights violations committed abroad. “If you are a confirmed human rights violator and you believe you can hide in the United States, you are mistaken,” Padula said, according to Fox News. He added that ICE would “pursue, arrest and remove” individuals who committed atrocities abroad and prevent U. S. communities from becoming a refuge from accountability. Nearly Two Decades in U. S. Massaquoi legally entered the United States in August 2006 but was authorized to remain only until November 6 of that year. He remained in the country beyond his authorized stay until Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested him in Maryland in August 2019…