As the Trump administration ramps up deportations, 3,690 Nigerians face removal from the U.S. Immigration enforcement has forced many undocumented immigrants to stop working and attending public gatherings. The Nigerian government confirmed 201 citizens are awaiting deportation, with the date yet to be set.
Nigerians in the United States, especially those without legal status, are facing growing fear amid the ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants under the Trump administration. According to a report by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), around 3,690 Nigerians are at risk of deportation after final orders were issued. The fear has caused many to drastically change their daily lives, including ceasing work and church attendance to avoid arrest. A Nigerian immigrant in Florida explained that he, along with others, is staying indoors, as workplaces and public places have become hotspots for ICE operations.
The U.S. government, under President Trump’s direction, has intensified immigration enforcement, with deportations expected to rise significantly. In late January 2025, over 500 people were already deported, setting the stage for what Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, described as the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
Though deportations have begun, the immigrant community is holding on to hope, recalling previous administrations' similar policies and lawsuits aimed at halting such actions. However, many, like the Nigerian in Ohio, feel trapped, unable to return to Nigeria due to instability and hardship there. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 201 Nigerians are currently in U.S. custody awaiting deportation, but no final date for deportation has been disclosed yet.
