The United States government, under President Donald Trump’s administration, has targeted 3,690 Nigerians for deportation as part of its intensified crackdown on illegal immigration.
On his inauguration day as the 47th President of the U.S., Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at tightening immigration policies, including the elimination of birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants. This has heightened fears among undocumented Nigerians residing in the U.S.
A document from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations revealed that Nigeria is among the countries with the highest number of individuals facing deportation.
The document titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship”, revealed that Mexico and El Salvador top the list of nations facing the most deportation, with 252,044 and 203,822, respectively.
ICE has the authority to swiftly deport undocumented individuals who cannot prove continuous residence in the U.S. for more than two years. Reports indicate that hundreds of migrants have already been arrested and deported on military aircraft.
The policy shift has drawn strong criticism from advocacy groups and religious leaders. The Center for Law and Social Policy warned that the measures could discourage immigrant families from seeking medical care, disaster relief, and education, while also increasing the risk of children witnessing traumatic encounters with immigration authorities.
Religious leaders have also spoken against the policy. During an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington called on the administration to show compassion toward immigrants and vulnerable populations.
