Thousands of Nigerians in the US are now in danger of being deported as the President Donald Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration.
A document from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that 3,690 Nigerians are on the list of those to be removed from the country.
The report by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations shows the statistics of non-citizens with final deportation orders.
As of November 24, 2024, 1,445,549 individuals are on ICE’s non-detained docket waiting to be removed. Mexico and El Salvador top the list with 252,044 and 203,822 respectively, but Nigeria is also high up there.
ICE is responsible for securing the United States from cross border crime and illegal immigration, enforcing policies to protect national security.
The latest enforcement has led to mass arrests, hundreds of undocumented migrants are being taken into custody. Many others have already been deported by military aircraft as Trump is working to fulfill his immigration promises.
Fear Among Nigerian Immigrants
The crackdown has caused fear among undocumented Nigerians in the US. Many are now unsure of their future with Trump’s tough stance on immigration enforcement.
Since his inauguration as the 47th President, he has signed several executive orders to tighten immigration laws. These include ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border to justify military intervention.
He has said he will deport the “criminal aliens”, a term he uses loosely.
His administration has deployed more resources to border security, immigration raids and deportation, especially on those with final deportation orders.
Deportation Flights Diplomatic Tensions
It’s not just individuals who are being affected, it’s also causing diplomatic tensions between the US and some of its key allies.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently blocked US military planes from deporting unauthorized immigrants back to his country, calling it inhumane.
Trump responded with economic threats.
It escalated when Trump announced a 25% tariff on Colombia, and warned he’d increase it to 50% in a week. He also imposed financial sanctions, revoked visas for Colombian officials and threatened more.
Petro responded with retaliatory tariffs on US imports, matching Trump’s bold move.
But by Sunday night the White House issued a statement saying Colombia had agreed to the deportation flights and some of the sanctions were put on hold.
Colombia’s foreign ministry later confirmed the issue was resolved and would treat deportees with dignity.
It’s tough times for undocumented Nigerians in the US. With deportation policies getting stricter, many who have built lives there are now facing forced removal.
The Nigerian government may need to engage in talks to cushion the effect on its citizens, while those affected should explore legal options where possible.
So for now, the crackdown continues. Thousands of Nigerians are on the way home.