Nigerian illegal immigrants in the United States have been forced into hiding and restricted movement to avoid arrest and deportation under the tough policies of President Donald Trump’s administration. According to a document from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), approximately 3,690 Nigerians are facing deportation.
The document, titled ‘Non-citizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,’ revealed that Mexico and El Salvador top the list of nations facing deportation, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively. As of November 24, 2024, over 1.4 million non-citizens were listed on ICE’s removal docket.
This development follows the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration, with the U.S. Justice Department threatening to prosecute local and state authorities that fail to comply with immigration enforcement. On January 23, 538 illegal immigrants were deported, and Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that the largest deportation operation in U.S. history was underway.
A Nigerian immigrant in Florida, speaking anonymously, explained that many African immigrants, especially Nigerians, have stopped going out to work or attend church, living in constant fear of ICE raids. He acknowledged the hardship but stated that the fear of deportation was still considered less severe than the insecurity and challenges many Nigerians face back home.