By Gloria Nosa
The United States government has concluded plans to deport at least 79 Nigerian nationals convicted of various criminal offences, following an intensified immigration enforcement campaign.
According to information published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected individuals appear on what authorities described as a “priority removal” list, made up of foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes within the country.
DHS records indicate that the Nigerians slated for deportation were found guilty of offences ranging from financial fraud and drug trafficking to violent crimes such as assault, robbery, and manslaughter.
The arrests, officials said, were carried out as part of a broader nationwide operation targeting non-citizens with criminal convictions. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led the operation under directives from the current administration.
In an official statement accompanying the release, DHS said the enforcement drive is focused on removing what it termed the most dangerous criminal offenders from U.S. communities.
“The Department of Homeland Security is prioritising the removal of the most serious criminal offenders arrested by ICE,” the statement noted, adding that the exercise aligns with President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration policy aimed at large-scale deportations, beginning with individuals convicted of major crimes.
The list made public by DHS contains the names of dozens of Nigerian nationals convicted across different U.S. states. Authorities did not disclose the timeline for the deportations but confirmed that removal processes are already underway.
The latest development underscores the administration’s continued hardline stance on immigration, particularly against undocumented migrants and foreign nationals with criminal records. The policy has affected immigrants from several countries, including Nigeria.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the crackdown has triggered anxiety within immigrant communities, with some Nigerians reportedly avoiding public spaces while others have quietly returned home amid fears of arrest and deportation.
U.S. officials insist the operation is strictly targeted at convicted criminals and is intended to enhance public safety, while reaffirming their commitment to enforcing immigration laws without exception.
