A growing sense of fear has gripped Nigerian illegal immigrants in the United States as the Trump administration ramps up its deportation policies. Many have gone into hiding and are limiting their movements to avoid arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
A document from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations reveals that 3,690 Nigerians residing illegally in the U.S. face deportation. The document, titled Non-citizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship, further discloses that a total of 1,445,549 non-citizens had final removal orders as of November 24, 2024. Mexico and El Salvador top the list of affected countries, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively.
Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, his administration has swiftly enforced stricter immigration policies. On January 23 alone, 538 undocumented immigrants were deported, and the U.S. Justice Department has warned local and state authorities against noncompliance with federal immigration directives. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed via her official X account that the largest deportation operation in U.S. history is currently underway.
Nigerians Living in Fear
Speaking with Punch, a Nigerian in Florida described the drastic measures taken by many illegal immigrants to evade ICE officers.
“Since Trump acted on his deportation threat, some of us have stopped going to work because ICE can raid workplaces at any time. I don’t even go to church anymore—it’s too risky. Right now, the safest place is indoors,” he said.
He noted that the factory where he works employs several Nigerians and Africans, many of whom have also stopped reporting to work out of fear. However, he remains hopeful that the crackdown will ease over time.
“The fear of Trump is the beginning of wisdom now,” he added.
Despite multiple attempts, he has been unable to legalize his stay in the U.S. since arriving in 2013. He recounted losing nearly $30,000 while trying to obtain residency papers through various means, including marriage fraud and failed asylum applications.
A Nigerian in Columbus, Ohio, also shared similar fears, explaining that although Nigerians are not the primary targets of the mass deportation exercise, any undocumented immigrant is at risk.
“Trump’s war on illegal immigrants has restricted our movements. People now watch where they go, like rats monitoring a cat. Personally, I stopped going to work the first week Trump was inaugurated and have since been inconsistent,” he said.
Despite the risks, returning to Nigeria is not an option for many.
“My difficult life here is still better than what is considered ‘comfortable’ in Nigeria. Millions of Nigerians are trying to leave the country due to hardship and insecurity. We just hope this threat will subside soon,” he added.
Nigeria’s Response
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 201 Nigerians are currently in U.S. custody, awaiting deportation.
The ministry’s acting spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, clarified that deportation procedures require official communication with the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
“The U.S. authorities have not yet communicated the date and time for deportation, but they cannot send Nigerians back without informing the embassy,” Ebienfa stated.
As the Trump administration continues its aggressive deportation policies, Nigerian illegal immigrants in the U.S. remain on edge, hoping for a resolution that will allow them to stay.