The United States is preparing to deport 85 Nigerians to Lagos as part of its ongoing immigration policies, a move confirmed by Richard Miller, the U.S. envoy to Nigeria.
This development follows the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration, which has seen thousands of undocumented individuals detained and deported.
According to Miller, the first batch of deportees includes individuals convicted of crimes in the U.S. as well as those who violated immigration laws and exhausted their appeals. The deportation process will take place in Lagos, with no alternative locations considered.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has urged the U.S. government to ensure the process is conducted with dignity.
She expressed concerns over the economic and emotional impact of these deportations, particularly on families who depend on remittances from their relatives abroad. She also raised concerns about the potential suspension of the U.S. Drop Box Visa System, which could further complicate travel for Nigerians.
Reports indicate that 3,690 Nigerians are at risk of deportation under the current enforcement measures.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been actively executing deportation orders, particularly in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
This policy is part of a broader effort to tighten immigration laws under Trump’s administration, including executive orders limiting citizenship by birth for children of undocumented immigrants.
The crackdown has heightened fears among undocumented Nigerians in the U.S., who now face an uncertain future.
