Thousands of illegal Nigerian immigrants in the United States have resorted to hiding and restricting their movements in a desperate bid to avoid arrest and deportation under the administration of President Donald Trump.
This comes as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has intensified efforts to enforce strict immigration policies.
A recently released document from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations reveals that approximately 3,690 Nigerians in the U.S. are currently facing deportation.
The document, titled Non-citizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship, lists Mexico and El Salvador as the countries with the highest number of deportations, recording 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively. As of November 24, 2024, a total of 1,445,549 non-citizens were recorded on ICE’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal.
The Trump-led administration swiftly launched its stringent anti-illegal immigration policies following the President’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
In line with these policies, the U.S. Department of Justice has threatened to prosecute local and state authorities that fail to comply with federal immigration directives.
As part of this crackdown, a total of 538 illegal immigrants were deported from the U.S. on January 23. Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced via her official X handle that the largest deportation operation in history was currently underway.
Many Nigerians and other African immigrants living illegally in the U.S. have been thrown into a state of panic following these developments.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Nigerian immigrant residing in Florida disclosed that many undocumented Nigerians have chosen to stay indoors, avoiding public places to evade ICE agents. "We have stopped going out no more work, no more church.
The situation is terrible as we live in fear. In spite of that, we believe the situation is still better than the hardship and insecurity in Nigeria," the Nigerian stated in an interview on Friday.
With the heightened risk of arrest and deportation, many illegal immigrants have reportedly abandoned their jobs and daily routines, further complicating their already precarious living conditions.
In response to the situation, Nigeria’s Federal Government has disclosed that a total of 201 Nigerians are currently in the custody of U.S. authorities, awaiting deportation.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the exact date and time of their deportation had not been communicated to the Nigerian government.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, the acting spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that established diplomatic procedures require official communication from U.S. authorities to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., before any deportations can take place.
"The total number of 201 Nigerians is currently in their custody for deportation, but the date and time for deportation have not been communicated.
And there is no way they will be deported to Nigeria without communication with the embassy in Washington, D.C.," Ebienfa stated.
With President Trump’s firm stance on immigration enforcement, many Nigerian illegal immigrants remain uncertain about their future in the U.S. While some have chosen to remain hidden in hopes of avoiding detection, others are considering voluntary repatriation to Nigeria.
However, for many, the fear of returning to the economic instability and insecurity back home remains a major deterrent.
As ICE continues its aggressive deportation operations, the fate of thousands of Nigerians living illegally in the U.S. hangs in the balance, leaving them to navigate a daily reality filled with fear and uncertainty.