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PANIC as Nigeria in US worried Over Trump’s Mass Deportation Threat
Nigerians and other African illegal immigrants in the United States are expressing growing concerns over potential deportation following President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders targeting illegal immigration.
On his inauguration day as the 47th President of the US, Trump signed a series of executive orders tightening immigration policies, including the elimination of birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and a declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexico border.
Trump’s administration has also deployed additional troops to the border and ordered the deportation of “criminal aliens.” On Thursday, 538 undocumented immigrants were deported as part of the administration’s efforts.
Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed the operation via her X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating, “The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway.”
The development has sparked anxiety among Nigerian communities in the US. Many undocumented Nigerians fear they may be next after deportations primarily targeting Mexicans, Haitians, and Indians.
Jacob Adegoke, a Nigerian-American and Trump supporter, remarked that Africans might be the next focus of the deportation agenda. Similarly, Nigerian media entrepreneur Obi-West Utchaychukwu corroborated these fears, noting that while no Nigerians had been arrested yet, the community was closely monitoring the situation.
“There’s a lot of apprehension in the Nigerian community right now,” said Adebayo, a source in New York who requested anonymity. “Many undocumented Nigerians are deeply worried about the policies of the new government. Some even avoid going out for fear of being targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.”
Trump’s immigration directive has led to a series of ICE raids across the country. In Newark, New Jersey, immigration officials detained an American military veteran and several undocumented residents during a raid on a business establishment.
A Nigerian immigration lawyer based in Maryland disclosed that many Nigerians with student visas or other temporary arrangements are also worried. “People on student visas hoping to transition into something more are feeling the pressure, especially as ICE intensifies its crackdown.”
The fear has forced many Nigerians to limit their movements and remain cautious as the deportation operations continue.
