At least 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are at risk of deportation as the President Donald Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The crackdown against illegal immigration by the Trump administration has sent many Nigerians residing in the U.S. without proper documentation into panic.
The newly inaugurated president has wasted no time in implementing tougher immigration policies, including an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.
According to a document from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit, the latest data categorises deportees by nationality.
The report, titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” ranked Nigeria among the top African nations with the highest number of deportees.
Mexico and El Salvador led the global list with 252,044 and 203,822 deportees, respectively.
In Africa, Somalia tops the list with 4,090 deportees, followed closely by Nigeria with 3,690. Ghana ranked third, with 3,228 individuals facing removal from the U.S.
ICE data also revealed that there were currently 1,445,549 non-citizens on its non-detained docket with final orders of removal.
Under the U.S. immigration laws, undocumented individuals who cannot prove they have continuously resided in the country for more than two years can be swiftly deported.
Since Trump’s return to office, hundreds of migrants have already been arrested and deported on military aircraft in major crackdowns.
The administration has ramped up enforcement actions, with ICE empowered to carry out daily arrests and deportations.
The wave of deportations has also sparked strong opposition from human rights organisations and advocacy groups.
The Center for Law and Social Policy warned that the new policies could have devastating consequences for immigrant families, particularly those with U.S.-born children.
“The impact of these deportations extends far beyond the individuals being removed,” the organisation said in a statement. “Families may avoid seeking medical care, disaster relief, or education services out of fear, and children could be traumatised by witnessing immigration raids and arrests.”
Religious leaders have also condemned the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
Speaking at an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington urged President Trump to show compassion for immigrants and vulnerable communities.
With ICE aggressively enforcing deportation orders, thousands of Nigerians in the U.S. now face an uncertain future.
Many are awaiting legal proceedings, while others with final removal orders could be deported at any moment.
