Washington, D.C. –
Thousands of Nigerians in the United States may soon be deported as President Donald Trump enforces his hardline stance on illegal immigration.
According to a document released Tuesday by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), about 3,690 Nigerians are among those facing final removal orders.
The report, titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” lists Mexico and El Salvador as the top two countries with deportation cases, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively.”
As of November 24, 2024, there are 1,445,549 non-citizens with final removal orders in the U.S.,” the document states. “These individuals are on ICE’s non-detained docket and may be subject to deportation at any time.”
Nigerians in the U.S. Fear DeportationWith Trump’s administration ramping up enforcement, fear has spread among undocumented Nigerians.
“I’ve been here for over five years, working and building a life,” said Chidi Okafor, a Nigerian living in Texas. “Now, I don’t know what’s next. I fear for my future and my family’s.”
Another Nigerian, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed similar concerns. “We knew Trump would be strict on immigration, but the speed at which this is happening is alarming,” he said.
Mass Deportations Underway
Last Thursday, hundreds of undocumented migrants were arrested in coordinated operations across multiple states. Some were reportedly deported on military aircraft.
“We are committed to upholding U.S. immigration laws and ensuring that those without legal status are removed in accordance with federal law,” said an ICE spokesperson.
President Trump, who was inaugurated as the 47th U.S. President earlier this month, wasted no time in signing executive orders targeting illegal immigration. His new policies include ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and expanding deportation efforts.
“Our immigration system has been broken for too long,” Trump declared in a press briefing last week. “We are restoring law and order by removing those who have no legal right to be here.”
With enforcement escalating, Nigerian and other African immigrants without legal status in the U.S. now find themselves in an increasingly precarious situation. Many are weighing their options, unsure of what the future holds.
