Nearly two million undocumented immigrants in the United States have been identified for deportation as former President Donald Trump ramps up his controversial immigration crackdown.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has compiled a list of 1,445,549 non-citizens under final orders of removal, signaling one of the largest deportation operations in recent history.
A document obtained by Fox News from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) revealed that as of November 24, 2024, thousands of migrants from various countries, including Nigeria, were marked for deportation.
Nigeria ranks as the second most affected African nation on the list, with 3,690 citizens facing removal, trailing only Somalia, which has 4,090. Meanwhile, Mexico tops the global list with 252,044 nationals set to be deported.
The U.S. government has issued a firm directive urging affected countries to cooperate in accepting the return of their nationals, emphasizing that refusal to do so could result in diplomatic consequences.
Trump, known for his hardline stance on immigration, has accelerated ICE’s enforcement efforts, with reports confirming mass arrests and deportations of undocumented individuals in recent weeks.
The crackdown has sparked concerns among human rights organizations, who warn that large-scale deportations could lead to humanitarian crises in affected countries.
Nigeria, already grappling with economic challenges and a high unemployment rate, may struggle to reintegrate thousands of returnees if the deportation process proceeds at full scale.
As tensions rise, the spotlight is now on affected governments, including Nigeria’s, to engage in diplomatic negotiations and prepare for the potential influx of deported citizens.
The coming weeks will determine the full impact of Trump’s renewed immigration policies on undocumented migrants worldwide.