Many Nigerians living in the United States without proper documentation are now living in fear. This is because President Donald Trump’s administration is taking strong actions against illegal immigrants. A report from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that about 3,690 Nigerians are facing deportation. The report, titled ‘Non-citizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,’ lists Mexico and El Salvador as the top countries with the highest number of deportations, having 252,044 and 203,822 individuals respectively.
As of November 24, 2024, there were 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders. After President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, his administration quickly began enforcing strict policies against illegal immigration. The U.S. Justice Department has also warned that it will take legal action against local and state authorities that do not follow federal immigration directives.
On January 23, 538 illegal immigrants were deported from the United States. The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced on her official X (formerly Twitter) account that the largest deportation operation in history is currently underway.
A Nigerian living in Florida, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that many illegal immigrants have been living in fear since President Trump took office. He mentioned that African immigrants, especially Nigerians, are worried they might be targeted next. Due to this fear, many have stopped going to work or attending church services to avoid encounters with ICE agents. He said, “We have stopped going out, no more work and church. The situation is terrible as we live in fear. In spite of that, we believe the situation is better than the hardship and insecurity in Nigeria.”
The Nigerian federal government has reported that 201 Nigerians are currently in U.S. custody awaiting deportation. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the exact date and time of their deportation have not been communicated yet. Kimiebi Ebienfa, the acting spokesperson for the ministry, explained that it’s standard diplomatic practice for the U.S. to inform the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., before deporting Nigerian citizens. He said, “The total number of 201 Nigerians is currently in their custody for deportation, but the date and time for deportation have not been communicated. And there is no way they will be deported to Nigeria without communication with the embassy in Washington D.C.”
This situation has caused significant anxiety among Nigerian communities in the U.S., as they navigate the challenges of living under increased immigration enforcement.
