By Jeremy Stein
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data reveals that 902 Nigerians have been deported from the United States since the beginning of fiscal year 2019. This information, contained in the agency’s 2024 Annual Report, also indicates that an additional 3,690 Nigerians are currently facing the threat of deportation with existing removal orders.
While the number of Nigerian removals decreased from 286 in 2019 to 138 in 2024, representing a 51.7% decline, the ICE report shows a spike in removals during Donald Trump’s first two full years in office (2018-2019). Experts suggest a potential resurgence in removals could occur in 2025, driven by a renewed crackdown on immigration.
Nigeria accounts for the largest share of deportations from the U.S. to Africa. Senegal ranks second with 716 removals, followed by Ghana (582) and Mauritania (491). Notably, removals to Mauritania saw a significant increase from 58 in 2023 to 353 in 2024.
ICE attributed this spike to the expansion of the Electronic Nationality Verification (ENV) program, which streamlines identity checks for consular officers, reducing approval times from weeks to days. This expedited process facilitated the use of weekend charter flights to countries like Mauritania, Senegal, and Ghana.
The report also listed other African countries with significant deportation numbers, including Egypt (467), Somalia (406), Democratic Republic of Congo (395), Liberia (379), Kenya (335), and Guinea (294).
Beyond Africa, Mexico leads all countries in deportations with 434,827 removals between fiscal years 2019 and 2024. Enforcement activity remained high in the Northern Triangle, with Guatemala (185,713), Honduras (142,349), and El Salvador (65,268) also reporting significant numbers.
ICE states that the legal basis for removals rests on the Immigration and Nationality Act. Foreign nationals can be deported for reasons including unlawful entry, visa overstays, fraud, criminal convictions, or national security concerns.
The agency’s enforcement efforts intensified following President Trump’s Executive Order 13768 in January 2017, which expanded ICE’s enforcement scope to include anyone without lawful status. This led to a 30% increase in ICE arrests that year, accompanied by a rise in Nigerian removals.
In 2021, President Biden directed ICE to prioritize the removal of serious criminals and recent entrants, resulting in a significant drop in deportation numbers. However, a Supreme Court ruling in July 2024 allowed the Department of Homeland Security to fully reinstate its guidelines prioritizing public safety and national security cases.
The Nigerian government has expressed concerns about the deportation process. In February, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, urged the U.S. to ensure a humane process for Nigerians facing deportation, addressing concerns about the emotional and financial impact on deportees and their families.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has stated its readiness to welcome deported Nigerians. NiDCOM Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that the Federal Government has established an inter-agency committee to manage the potential for mass deportations from the U.S.
