Photo:US deporting undocumented immigrants
The Nigerian government is preparing to handle the potential deportation of Nigerian citizens from the U.S., with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirming that an inter-agency committee has been established to manage the issue should mass deportations occur.
The Director of Media and Corporate Affairs for NiDCOM, Abdul-Rahman Balogun explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would oversee the process, and the committee would include NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Mass Deportation Concerns Amid Trump’s Immigration Policies
The announcement comes amid concerns that approximately 3,690 Nigerians in the U.S. are at risk of deportation due to Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
According to a document from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division is processing individuals for removal.
As of November 24, 2024, over 1.4 million non-citizens are on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders, with Mexico and El Salvador topping the list.
“The Federal Government is prepared to handle deportations, but as of now, we have no official confirmation of Nigerians being processed for deportation,” Balogun stated.
Coordinated Efforts for Deported Nigerians
While the Nigerian government is gearing up for the possibility of mass deportations, NiDCOM emphasised that it has not received any reports of deportation proceedings against Nigerians currently living in the U.S.
However, the inter-agency committee will be ready to assist if the situation escalates.
Also Read:Federal Civil Service Commission Announces Nationwide Recruitment
The latest concerns regarding deportation coincide with a larger effort by the U.S. government to address illegal immigration, with ICE focusing on national security threats and cross-border crime.
U.S. Immigration Crackdown
In the ongoing deportation operations, hundreds of migrants were arrested, and some were flown out of the U.S. on military aircraft last week. Sources suggest that African migrants, including Nigerians, may face heightened scrutiny in future deportation efforts as part of Trump’s immigration policies.
Global Financial Digest
(
