IPNEWS: A U.S. based Liberian Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, and Counter-Terrorism Expert G. Al Smith, is calling for a more robust boarder protection and management.
In an excerpt of his column titled ‘Liberia’s Emerging National Security Threat: Immigration, Migration, and State Failure’, Smith stated that Liberia faces serious and emerging national security threats that demand urgent and decisive attention.
Smith a Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, and Counter-Terrorism expert, said Liberia’s immigration and migration systems must be review to address deep concern particularly since its transition from the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) to the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), a shift that raised more alarm than confidence.
‘By design, immigration agencies are law-enforcement institutions. They are not merely administrative offices; they are security organs structured across multiple divisions, including uniformed operations, intelligence, legal services, naturalization, physical security, planning and research, and internal administration. Prior to the civil war, Liberia’s immigration institutions—though imperfect—demonstrated stronger internal controls, clearer command structures, and more effective external oversight than what exists today.’Mr. Al Smith Cautioned.
He further warned that ‘If current immigration leadership fails to act immediately, Liberia risks sliding into a full-blown migration and internal security crises.
Smith stated that at a minimum, ‘urgent corrective steps must include an immediate moratorium on naturalization; a comprehensive review of individuals previously granted citizenship and resident permits; a thorough evaluation of academy instructional staff and training curricula; the elevation of recruitment and training standards; targeted recruitment of well-qualified graduates from Liberian colleges and universities; and the provision of adequate compensation, logistics, and operational support for immigration personnel.
“Failure to implement these measures will have cascading consequences. Weak immigration controls will accelerate undocumented migration, exacerbate the already dangerous illegal drug situation, and further expose Liberia to transnational drug trafficking networks. Equally troubling is the growing risk of illicit foreign financial influence, including questionable money flows reportedly originating from the Middle East and other regions, exploiting institutional weakness and regulatory gaps.
Migration, by its very nature, requires assimilation. History shows that when migrants fail—or refuse—to integrate into the host society, instability follows. In Liberia’s past, immigrant communities largely assimilated into Liberian society, adopting its norms, laws, and civic responsibilities. Today, however, there is a visible departure from that historical pattern. Increasing numbers of migrants resist assimilation, creating parallel social systems that undermine cohesion, strain local communities, and pose long-term security risks.
Additional red flags cannot be ignored. Foreign actors are reportedly acquiring property across Liberia on a wide scale, often with limited transparency. There are also credible reports of counterfeit Liberian banknotes being printed in Southeast Asia and trafficked into the country for criminal and destabilizing purposes. These are not isolated incidents; they are symptoms of systemic institutional weakness.
National security does not collapse overnight it erodes gradually, through neglect, denial, and failure to act. Immigration control is one of the first and most critical lines of defense for any sovereign state. If Liberia continues on its current trajectory without decisive reform, the consequences will not be abstract or theoretical they will be deeply human, painfully visible, and extremely difficult to reverse.” G. Al Smith cautioned.
