MONROVIA – In a strongly worded opinion piece published on Monday, April 7, 2025, United States Ambassador to Liberia, Mark Toner, issued a stern warning to Liberians about the dangers and consequences of illegal immigration to the United States. The Op-Ed, titled “Don’t Risk Your Future: The United States Cracks Down on Illegal Immigration,” outlines a no-nonsense approach to immigration under President Donald Trump’s administration and specifically targets the alarming rate at which Liberians overstay their visas.
According to Ambassador Toner, nearly 20 percent of Liberians who enter the U.S. on tourist visas fail to leave when their visas expire, placing Liberia among the top ten countries with the highest visa overstay rates globally. He attributed the difficulty many Liberians face in securing nonimmigrant visas to this troubling statistic and to increasing incidents of fraud during the application process.
“Since I arrived in Liberia as the United States Ambassador, I have been asked a lot of questions about nonimmigrant visas, and why it is so hard for Liberians to get a tourist visa,” Toner wrote. “The plain truth is, almost twenty percent of Liberians who visit the United States on a tourist visa do not leave at the end of their trip.”
The Ambassador minced no words in laying out the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws. He warned that those who enter the United States illegally, lie to obtain visas, work without authorization, or overstay their permitted stay would face jail time, deportation, and permanent bans from ever re-entering the country. “If you have family or friends who are in the United States illegally, now is the time to tell them to come home,” Toner advised.
Citing recent enforcement statistics, the Ambassador revealed that illegal border crossings in February 2025 had dropped 94 percent compared to the same month in 2024, while arrests of illegal immigrants already inside the U.S. had skyrocketed by 627 percent. He credited the Trump Administration’s toughened border security measures for these results.
Toner also emphasized that attempts to defraud the visa system through false documents, dishonest answers on applications, or overstaying a visa constitute serious criminal offenses with lasting consequences. “You will be punished, and you may never be allowed to enter the United States again,” he stressed.
Beyond legal consequences, Toner warned Liberians about the life-threatening dangers of attempting to reach the U.S. illegally. “Criminal groups, cartels, and human traffickers target illegal migrants, subjecting them to violence, extortion, and assault,” he wrote. “Many who attempt the journey never make it to their destination.”
The Op-Ed also highlighted a new visa restriction policy aimed at foreign officials who fail to prevent illegal immigration. This includes staff in immigration, customs, port authorities, as well as individuals in the tourism and transportation sectors. “Those who threaten U.S. security by facilitating illegal immigration are not welcome in our country,” Toner stated.
In closing, Ambassador Toner urged Liberians to reflect seriously before making the decision to immigrate illegally, stressing that the risks far outweigh the rewards. “Make the right choice, follow the law, and do not risk your safety, your family, or your future,” he concluded.
The Ambassador’s message comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of immigration practices worldwide and stresses the United States government’s intent to hold both individuals and foreign institutions accountable in its ongoing crackdown on illegal migration.
