As part of his ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration, President Donald Trump’s administration has announced that 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are at risk of deportation.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed this information in a document detailing non-citizens with final removal orders, which was seen by our correspondent on Tuesday.
Below are the lists:
According to the document, as of November 24, 2024, a total of 1,445,549 non-citizens are on ICE’s non-detained docket awaiting deportation.
Mexico and El Salvador have the highest numbers, with 252,044 and 203,822 people respectively facing deportation.
The document, titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” provides a breakdown by nationality, emphasizing the growing scope of the deportation effort.
ICE is responsible for enforcing laws to protect the U.S. from cross-border crime and illegal immigration, which Trump has prioritized during his second term.
Last Thursday, the U.S. authorities launched a large-scale deportation operation, arresting hundreds of migrants and flying others out of the country on military aircraft.
With Trump’s continued war on illegal immigration, Nigerians and other African nationals are now feared to be the next targets of deportation.
This has caused anxiety among Nigerian immigrants who are in the U.S. unlawfully.
Since his inauguration, Trump has enacted executive orders to intensify immigration controls, including ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.
His administration has also declared a national emergency at the southern border with Mexico, sending additional troops to the area and vowing to deport “criminal aliens.”
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions have arisen over the deportation process. Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially blocked U.S. military planes from carrying deported migrants back to Colombia, citing concerns over inhumane treatment.
However, after a series of threats from Trump, including imposing tariffs and sanctions on Colombia, Petro agreed to allow the deportation flights, and the U.S. has held off on additional penalties for now.
The situation remains fluid as both countries continue to negotiate the terms of deportation flights, with Trump’s administration threatening further economic measures if Colombia does not comply.
The latest deportation statistics highlight the broader global issue of migration and the political tensions it often creates between nations.
The list of countries most affected by the U.S. deportation effort continues to grow, with many fearing the implications for international relations and the lives of migrants caught in the process.
