Canada deported 643 Nigerian nationals between January 2025 and June 2026, making Nigeria the only African country to feature among the top 10 nationalities removed from the country during the period, according to official figures released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The latest Immigration Removal Statistics published by the CBSA showed that 438 Nigerians were removed in 2025, placing Nigeria 10th among the countries with the highest number of immigration removals. Between January and June 2026, another 205 Nigerians were deported, moving Nigeria to ninth position on the list.
The report, which provides annual removal statistics from 2020 to 2025 and monthly figures for 2026 up to June 30, stated that immigration removals apply to foreign nationals who no longer have the legal right to remain in Canada.
The data revealed that deportations involving Nigerians have fluctuated over the last six years. Canada removed 302 Nigerians in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 200 in 2022. Nigeria did not appear among the top 10 nationalities removed in 2023 and 2024 but returned to the list in 2025 with 438 removals. By the midpoint of 2026, another 205 Nigerians had already been removed.
Notably, Nigeria remained the only African country listed among the top 10 nationalities removed from Canada in both 2025 and the first half of 2026.
According to the CBSA, Nigeria ranked 10th in 2025 with 438 removals and 9th between January and June 2026 with 205 removals.
Other countries on the 2025 top 10 list were Mexico, India, Haiti, Colombia, Romania, the United States, Venezuela, Pakistan and China, while the 2026 list included India, Mexico, Haiti, the United States, Colombia, Romania, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Chile.
The report also showed a significant increase in Canada’s immigration enforcement activities over recent years.
The CBSA carried out 12,858 enforced removals in 2020, before the figure dropped to 7,523 in 2021 and 8,335 in 2022.
However, removals rose sharply to 15,231 in 2023, increased further to 17,397 in 2024, and reached 23,160 in 2025, the highest annual total recorded during the six-year period covered by the report.
Between January and June 2026, Canada had already recorded 10,607 enforced removals, putting the country on course for another year of high immigration enforcement if the current pace continues.
The CBSA data showed that the countries with the highest number of removals in 2025 were:
- Mexico – 4,837
- India – 3,779
- Haiti – 2,275
- Colombia – 892
- Romania – 828
- United States – 803
- Venezuela – 626
- Pakistan – 456
- China – 455
- Nigeria – 438
For the first half of 2026, the top nationalities removed were:
- India – 3,323
- Mexico – 1,573
- Haiti – 431
- United States – 372
- Colombia – 354
- Romania – 293
- Bangladesh – 227
- Pakistan – 207
- Nigeria – 205
- Chile – 190
The report indicated that the vast majority of removals were due to non-compliance with Canada’s immigration laws, particularly involving refugee claimants.
In 2025, 19,225 removals involved refugee claimants found inadmissible because of non-compliance, while 2,549 non-claimants were removed on similar grounds. Other deportations were linked to criminality, organised crime, misrepresentation and other violations under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The same trend continued during the first half of 2026.
The agency also disclosed that most deportees left Canada without escorts. Of the 23,160 removals recorded in 2025, 20,619 were unescorted, while 1,639 required escorts.
Between January and June 2026, 9,862 removals were unescorted, compared with 542 escorted removals.
Despite the increase in deportations, Canada continues to face a large backlog of pending removal cases.
As of June 30, 2026, the CBSA reported 40,827 removal cases in progress, while its overall immigration enforcement inventory exceeded 572,000 files.
According to the agency, many of the pending cases involve refugee claims, ongoing court proceedings, travel document challenges and other legal or administrative issues that delay removals.
The CBSA said it is responsible for removing foreign nationals who are in Canada illegally “as soon as possible,” adding that enforcing removal orders is essential to maintaining the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and ensuring fairness for individuals who enter or remain in the country lawfully.
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