At least 5,144 Nigerians could be impacted by the current deportation efforts in the United States as President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants persists. This group includes Nigerian nationals in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) systems who have final removal orders, as well as those already held in ICE detention.
Attempts to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the issue were unsuccessful as of last night. However, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) informed Vanguard that the Federal Government has established an inter-agency committee to address potential mass deportations by the Trump administration.
As of November 2024, data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicated that there are 1,445,549 non-U.S. citizens from various nationalities on the non-detained docket with final removal orders, including 3,690 Nigerians. Additionally, ICE data revealed that 1,454 Nigerians are currently in detention and slated for deportation.
According to data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), of the 1,454 Nigerians in custody, 772 were arrested for criminal convictions or pending charges, while the remaining were detained for immigration violations, such as visa overstay.
As of November 2024, 417 Nigerians had been removed from the US, with 884 removed between 2019 and 2024. This comes as the new Trump administration enforces an immigration policy targeting undocumented immigrants. The ICE data coincides with a recent operation arresting nearly 3,000 “criminal aliens.” While the initial focus was on those with known records, concerns are rising that the policy may expand to include other undocumented immigrants, including those with non-detained removal orders.
A “non-detained docket” is a list maintained by ICE of non-citizens in the United States who are deemed removable but are not currently in detention. These individuals are targets for potential deportation, even though they are not in ICE custody.
ICE can execute deportations from the non-detained docket based on a final removal order from an immigration court. Additionally, individuals may be deported without a court order through expedited removal processes.
A final order of removal is typically issued against immigrants who have violated immigration laws, have criminal convictions, or hold expired immigration status. ICE has stated that it cannot provide specific reasons why certain non-citizens on the non-detained docket, who have final orders, cannot be removed.
According to Title 8 of the U.S. Code, ICE is authorized to remove non-citizens under final orders from an immigration judge or other legal orders, including those processed under expedited removal, unless they have expressed a fear of return or received a negative credible fear determination confirmed by an immigration judge.
Not every individual seeking to stay in the United States is guaranteed the right to remain. Non-citizens can seek relief or protection from removal through options like asylum, withholding of removal, or protections under the Convention Against Torture. If granted any of these forms of relief, ICE is unable to carry out their removal.
ICE aims to promptly remove undocumented non-citizens who are under final orders of removal. The U.S. government expects all nations to accept their citizens who are ineligible to stay in the U.S., but a lack of cooperation from foreign governments can hinder the removal process.
In response to directives from President Trump to increase deportation efforts, ICE’s Deputy Director, Patrick J. Lechleitner, emphasized the agency’s commitment to transparency in enforcement data. He stated that the agency will continue to improve communication regarding its law enforcement activities.
Furthermore, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman noted that empowering DOJ law enforcement officials to identify and apprehend illegal aliens is part of fulfilling President Trump’s promise for mass deportations. He mentioned that historically, resources for locating and apprehending illegal aliens have been insufficient, and the recent actions represent a significant improvement in addressing this issue.
The Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) was unaware of Nigerians in the US being processed for deportation. When reached for comment, a NiDCOM spokesperson stated that such matters fall under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ jurisdiction. In preparation for a potential mass deportation of Nigerians from the US, the Federal Government has established an inter-agency committee consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the National Security Adviser’s office.