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Over 3,690 Nigerians residing in the United States are at risk of deportation due to actions taken by the American government.
The anxiety surrounding deportation has intensified among Nigerians living illegally in the US following President Donald Trump's aggressive stance on illegal immigration.
On the day he was inaugurated as the 47th President of the US, Trump enacted several executive orders designed to tighten immigration regulations, including the termination of birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.
A report from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), specifically from its Enforcement and Removal Operations division, indicates that the data is categorized by nationality and the number of individuals facing deportation.
The report, titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” shows that Mexico and El Salvador lead the list of countries with the highest deportation numbers, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively. Nigeria ranks second in Africa with 3,690 individuals, just behind Somalia, which has 4,090. Ghana follows in third place with 3,228 undocumented immigrants.
In total, there are 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders. ICE has the authority to swiftly deport undocumented individuals who cannot demonstrate continuous residency in the United States for over two years. Numerous migrants have been apprehended and deported via military aircraft.
Advocacy organizations have expressed strong opposition to the new immigration policies.
The Center for Law and Social Policy has warned of serious consequences for immigrant families, especially those with children who are US citizens.
The organization raised concerns that these changes could discourage families from accessing medical services, disaster assistance, and education, and may increase the chances of children experiencing traumatic interactions with immigration authorities. Religious leaders have also criticized the policy. During a sermon at an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington called on the administration to extend compassion to immigrants and vulnerable communities.
