The Nigerian government had announced that the first batch of Nigerians deported under former President Donald Trump’s controversial mass deportation plan was expected to arrive on Monday, February 17, 2025. However, as of Tuesday morning, the batch had not yet arrived. The situation has been closely monitored by BBC Pidgin.
In a social media post on Monday, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, shared details of a meeting with the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr. During the discussion, Ojukwu emphasized Nigeria’s concerns about the decision to deport a significant number of Nigerians.
“As of now, there are about 201 Nigerians currently detained in US immigration centers, and about 85 of them have been cleared for deportation. The number is expected to rise sharply,” Ojukwu stated.
In the post, Ojukwu also stressed that the deportations, particularly for individuals without a history of violent crime, should not be traumatic or sudden. She insisted that those being deported should be given sufficient time to manage their assets and affairs, rather than being swiftly bundled onto planes. “The forced removals of our citizens must be in compliance with internationally prescribed guidelines and established protocols, with a more humane process being followed,” she added.
Ambassador Mills reportedly reassured Ojukwu that the repatriations would be carried out “with dignity and respect for human rights.”
Reports suggest that more than 3,000 Nigerians without legal status in the United States are at risk of deportation. According to documents obtained by Fox News from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), these immigrants have been placed on ICE’s non-detained docket, awaiting final orders of removal since November 2024.
Nigeria is now the second-highest country in Africa for deportations, following Somalia, with other countries such as Ghana and Senegal also being heavily affected. During his 2024 campaign, President Trump had promised to deport one million individuals without legal permission to stay in the US.
The situation has caused anxiety among African immigrant communities in the US, with many fearing raids, detention, and deportation. Many have gone underground, avoiding public spaces and reducing their presence in daily activities. Immigrants have expressed their fears, with some even pulling their children out of school to avoid possible encounters with ICE officers.
“I’m cautious about my movements and have faith in Allah that everything will be alright,” Abdul, a Nigerian immigrant living in Wisconsin, told BBC. Abdul, who moved to the US with his father about 30 years ago, expressed fear as he witnessed how ICE officials conduct operations in other cities. “It’s crazy how they treat people, like we’re not human too. We all bleed the same,” he added.
The Nigerian government, alongside affected communities, continues to watch the situation closely as more deportations are expected.
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Reporting by Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
