Exit Row: Over 3,000 Nigerians Face U.S. Deportation

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to deport 3,690 Nigerians as part of a broader effort to enforce immigration laws. These individuals are among 1.4 million migrants across the country who have been issued final removal orders.

According to ICE records, the affected Nigerians have been on the agency’s non-detained docket since November 24, 2024. This means they have been ordered to leave the U.S. or are in the process of being deported but are not currently held in ICE detention facilities.

Nigeria ranks second in Africa in terms of citizens facing deportation, following Somalia, which has 4,090 individuals on the list. Ghana comes in third. On a global scale, the highest number of deportation orders have been issued to nationals from Mexico (252,044), Guatemala (253,413), Honduras (261,651), and El Salvador (203,822).

The situation has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the U.S., with many fearing that enforcement actions may accelerate. Some Nigerians have voiced worries that they could become the next targets as authorities continue their deportation drive.

Under the current U.S. administration, immigration enforcement has intensified. ICE reported that nearly 68,000 noncitizens were removed in the third quarter of the 2024 fiscal year, reflecting a 69% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

With deportations on the rise, thousands of migrants now face uncertainty about their future in the U.S., raising questions about the impact of these policies on affected communities.