As President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, over 5,000 Nigerians could potentially be impacted by the ongoing deportation exercises from the United States.
According to data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this includes Nigerians on both the non-detained docket, with final orders of removal, as well as those already in ICE detention.
At present, 3,690 Nigerians are on the non-detained docket, while an additional 1,454 are currently being held in ICE custody, awaiting deportation.
The figures were released amidst heightened concerns about the U.S. government’s aggressive immigration policy, which aims to remove undocumented individuals, particularly those with criminal records.
As of November 2024, 772 of the Nigerians in ICE detention had been arrested due to criminal convictions or pending charges, while the rest were detained for immigration violations such as overstaying their visas.
ICE data also indicates that a portion of these individuals—417 Nigerians—had already been deported by November 2024, while 884 others had been removed between 2019 and 2024.
The deportation figures align with the Trump administration’s new immigration strategy, which includes daily arrests and deportations of between 1,200 and 1,500 individuals.
The enforcement focus initially targeted illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds, but there are growing concerns that attention could soon shift to include other undocumented individuals, particularly those on the non-detained docket.
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These individuals, while not currently in ICE custody, remain under threat of deportation under a final order issued by an immigration court.
The Nigerian government has responded by establishing an inter-agency committee to address potential mass deportations. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the matter, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) stated that it is prepared to handle the situation if deportations of Nigerians from the U.S. begin in significant numbers.
ICE’s deputy director, Patrick J. Lechleitner, emphasized the agency’s commitment to transparency, stating that the release of this data was part of efforts to enhance communication about deportation actions.
He further outlined the challenges of deporting undocumented immigrants, noting that cooperation from foreign governments is crucial for the smooth implementation of deportation orders.
As President Trump’s administration continues to enforce its immigration policies, the looming threat of mass deportations has prompted both concern and action from the Nigerian government, which is preparing for potential impacts on its citizens living in the U.S.
