The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the United States, has released it has the names and photographs of 124 Nigerians marked for deportation.
It said that the deportation is part of a sweeping immigration crackdown targeting non-citizens convicted of crimes.
The list which was published on the DHS website on Wednesday, grouped the Nigerians among what it described as the “worst of the worst” offenders facing removal from the U.S.
While the DHS did not disclose the specific offences or a timeline for the deportation, it however, stressed that all those listed had criminal convictions and were being prioritised under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration enforcement strategy.
According to publication; “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE”.
Some of the Nigerians named include: Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, Marcus Unigwe, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba, Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Patrick Onogwu and Omotayo Akinto, among others.
The DHS also said that the operation is part of Trump’s directive, signed on his first day back in office in January 2025, declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and ordering accelerated deportations.
It further stated that one of the orders specifically instructed ICE to prioritise the arrest and removal of non-citizens with criminal convictions.
The White House has defended the policy as necessary to protect public safety and enforce immigration laws.
Official data shows Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador have recorded the highest number of deportees since the renewed campaign began.
The U.S. has also expanded deportation flights to countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
The announcement comes weeks after Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening.
For the 124 Nigerians on the list, the next step is removal proceedings, just as it has added another layer of diplomatic pressure on Nigeria even as the two countries navigate immigration, security and bilateral relations under the new Trump administration.
