Washington, D.C. — The United States government has intensified its mass deportation efforts, with about 3,690 Nigerians among those facing removal from the country. This follows President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on illegal immigration, which has led to a series of enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to a document compiled by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and obtained by REPORT AFRIQUE, as of November 24, 2024, approximately 1,445,549 non-citizens are on the agency’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal. The report, titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” lists Mexico and El Salvador as the top two countries with the highest number of nationals facing deportation—252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively.
ICE, which is responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws and ensuring national security, has ramped up efforts to remove undocumented immigrants. Last Thursday, hundreds of migrants were arrested, while others were deported via military aircraft as Trump’s administration executed its mass deportation strategy.
Nigerians, Other Africans at Risk
The latest deportation wave has heightened fears among Nigerians and other African immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status. Trump, who was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States earlier this year, has taken aggressive steps to tighten immigration policies. Among his executive orders is the controversial termination of birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.
Additionally, Trump has declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, deploying additional military troops and vowing to expel undocumented individuals, whom he often refers to as “criminal aliens.”
U.S.-Colombia Diplomatic Clash Over Deportations
In a related development, tensions flared between the U.S. and Colombia after Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially blocked deportation flights carrying migrants from the U.S. On Sunday, Petro ordered the return of two U.S. military aircraft carrying deportees, citing concerns over their treatment. This sparked a diplomatic row with Trump, who responded with a series of economic sanctions and trade restrictions.
The White House later issued a statement confirming that Petro had agreed to U.S. demands, leading to a suspension of some sanctions. However, other penalties, including visa restrictions on Colombian officials, would remain in place until the first deportation flight arrived in Colombia.
“Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” the White House said in a statement.
Colombia’s foreign ministry later confirmed that an agreement had been reached. “We have overcome the impasse with the United States government,” the ministry stated, adding that Colombia would now accept all deportation flights and ensure dignified conditions for returning citizens.
Earlier in the day, Petro had announced retaliatory tariffs of 25% on U.S. imports, escalating to 50% in response to Trump’s measures. However, following negotiations, both governments appeared to back down from further escalation.
With Trump’s administration pushing ahead with its immigration agenda, Nigerians and other undocumented immigrants in the U.S. remain on edge, uncertain about their fate as deportation efforts intensify.
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