Nigeria: Trump's Govt Targets Over 3,000 Nigerians for Deportation

Somalia tops African deportation list as U.S.intensifies crackdown.
28 January 2025

Not less than 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are faced with deportation by the American government.

Following President Donald Trump's declaration of war against illegal immigration, the fear of deportation has gripped many Nigerians who are illegally staying in the US.

On his inauguration day as the 47th President of the US, Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at hardening immigration policies, including the stoppage of citizenship by birth for children of illegal immigrants.

According to a document compiled by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the agency revealed the data is broken down by nationality and number of people faced with deportation.

The document titled "Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship", revealed that Mexico and El Salvador top the list of nations facing the most deportation, with 252,044 and 203,822, respectively.

With 3,690 persons on the list, Nigeria was the country with the second most citizens in Africa, just behind Somalia which had 4,090.

Ghana held the third spot with 3,228 illegal immigrants.

There are 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE's non-detained docket with final removal order.

The ICE is empowered to quickly deport undocumented individuals who cannot prove they have resided in the United States continuously for more than two years.

Hundreds of migrants have been arrested and flown out of the country on military aircraft.

Advocacy groups have voiced strong opposition to the new policies. The Center for Law and Social Policy warned of severe repercussions for immigrant families, particularly those with US-citizen children.

The organisation expressed concern that the changes could deter families from seeking medical care, disaster relief, and education and may increase the likelihood of children witnessing traumatic encounters with immigration officials.

Religious leaders have also spoken out against the policy.

During a sermon at an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington urged the administration to show compassion toward immigrants and vulnerable populations.

 

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.