Trump’s Deportation Order Puts 1.4m at Risk, 3,690 Nigerians Affected

Hundreds of Nigerians in the United States are facing deportation following a new crackdown on illegal immigration initiated by President Donald Trump’s administration.

A report from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that as of November 24, 2024, 3,690 Nigerians are among the 1.4 million non-citizens in the U.S. with final removal orders. This document, titled Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship, outlines the individuals slated for deportation, broken down by nationality.

According to ICE’s report, Mexico and El Salvador lead the list of countries most affected by the mass deportation plan, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals respectively. However, Nigerians represent one of the largest African groups under threat, signaling a significant rise in the attention given to African illegal immigrants under Trump’s new immigration policy.

On Thursday last week, ICE conducted raids across the country, arresting hundreds of migrants and beginning to deport others, including those who were sent back on military planes as part of a large-scale operation. This move marks the beginning of what Trump has promised will be a massive deportation initiative aimed at clearing illegal immigrants from the U.S.

Trump’s tough stance on illegal immigration was a cornerstone of his presidential campaign, and upon taking office, he quickly signed executive orders aimed at curbing illegal immigration. One such order includes suspending citizenship by birth for children of illegal immigrants, and he has repeatedly called for a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, sending additional troops and threatening mass deportations of “criminal aliens.”

The U.S. government’s heightened deportation actions have led to growing concern among Nigerian immigrants in the U.S. who have overstayed their visas or entered the country illegally. With Trump ramping up efforts to target unauthorized immigrants, many Nigerians are now in fear of being sent back to their home country, as the administration prepares to intensify the crackdown.

The impact of Trump’s deportation policy has also been felt internationally. Tensions have escalated with Colombia, after President Gustavo Petro initially blocked U.S. military planes from bringing deportees into the country. Petro reversed his stance following a tense exchange of threats and retaliatory tariffs between the two nations. Trump imposed tariffs on Colombian imports, while Petro retaliated with sanctions on U.S. goods.

As Trump’s immigration agenda gains traction, many Nigerians, along with other immigrants in the U.S., now find themselves uncertain about their future in the country. While the exact duration of the deportation orders remains unclear, the situation continues to fuel fear and anxiety, particularly for Nigerians who had hoped to build a future in the U.S.

The repercussions of these deportations, particularly for Nigerians, are yet to fully unfold, but for now, the threat of being sent back looms large over thousands of immigrants.

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