LAGOS — The ongoing deportation exercises from the United States could affect up to 5,144 Nigerians as President Donald Trump’s government intensifies its crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
According to data shared by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the figure includes Nigerians on the non-detained docket with final orders of removal, as well as those currently held in ICE detention.
As of November 2024, ICE reported that 3,690 Nigerians are on the non-detained docket, with final orders of removal, and an additional 1,454 Nigerians are currently in detention and awaiting deportation.
Of the 1,454 Nigerians in custody, 772 were arrested for criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, while the remainder were apprehended for immigration violations such as overstaying their visas.
As of November 2024, 417 individuals have been deported, while 884 others were removed between 2019 and 2024.
The deportation process is part of President Trump’s broader immigration policy, which seeks to remove undocumented immigrants from the U.S., particularly those with criminal records. In the initial phase of the operation, nearly 3,000 “criminal aliens” were arrested.
However, as the operation progresses, concerns have emerged that the crackdown will soon extend beyond individuals with criminal histories to include others who are in the non-detained docket with final orders for removal.
Efforts to contact the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comments on the ongoing deportations were unsuccessful.
However, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed that the Nigerian government has already set up an inter-agency committee to address the issue of potential mass deportation.
NiDCOM officials reassured the public that the government is taking steps to manage the situation and support affected Nigerians.
The large number of Nigerians impacted by the deportation exercise has raised concerns within the Nigerian community, particularly about the social and economic consequences for families affected by the loss of loved ones to deportation.
Nigerians in the U.S. who are impacted by the policy could face significant hardships, with some individuals being forced to return to a country where they may lack sufficient resources or support networks.
The growing deportation numbers also reflect the broader trend of tougher immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration, which has focused on significantly reducing the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
While the U.S. has emphasized the need for stringent border control and immigration reform, critics argue that the impact on immigrant communities, particularly families and individuals who have lived in the country for many years, is detrimental to the social fabric of the nation.
As the deportation effort continues, many Nigerian nationals in the U.S. are left anxious about their future and their status in the country.
With the Nigerian government actively engaging in efforts to address the situation, there remains uncertainty over how many more Nigerians could be affected by the ongoing crackdown.
The situation highlights the growing tension around immigration policies in the U.S., as millions of undocumented immigrants remain at risk of deportation, especially as the Trump administration’s stance on immigration continues to evolve.
