A total of 3,690 Nigerians face the risk of deportation from the United States as part of ongoing efforts to address illegal immigration.
This development is part of a broader initiative by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove over 1.4 million non-citizens who are subject to final deportation orders, according to a document shared by ICE.
The document, titled Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship, identifies Nigeria as one of the countries significantly affected, alongside Mexico and El Salvador, which account for 252,044 and 203,822 deportations respectively.
The report shows that as of November 2024, more than 1.4 million individuals, including Nigerians, have received final removal orders. These individuals, though not currently detained, have exhausted all legal avenues to remain in the United States.
ICE emphasized that its primary mission is to enforce immigration laws and ensure that individuals unlawfully present in the US are removed.
The agency’s efforts align with the broader immigration policies of former President Donald Trump, who has consistently advocated for stricter immigration measures. Last week, Trump reiterated the administration’s commitment to deporting “criminal aliens” and highlighted other measures, including military deployment along the southern border with Mexico, as part of his broader immigration agenda. “America is respected again,” the White House declared in a statement, adding that its policies aim to secure national borders.
The potential deportations have raised concerns, particularly among African migrants, with Nigerians being one of the key groups affected. While the Nigerian government has yet to publicly comment on the figures, the news is likely to cause anxiety among those facing removal from the United States.