The United States government is preparing to deport 3,690 Nigerians who have been identified as residing in the country illegally. According to a document from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), obtained by Fox News, these individuals have been on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders since November 24, 2024.
The non-detained docket includes individuals who have been ordered to leave the US but are not held in ICE custody. In total, over 7 million people are on this list, including those held in federal, state, or local jails but not directly under ICE control.
Among African nations, Nigeria ranks second on the deportation list, with Somalia having the highest number of deportees at 4,090, followed by Ghana in third place. Globally, Mexico tops the list with 252,044 individuals facing deportation, followed by Guatemala (253,413), Honduras (261,651), and El Salvador (203,822). Other countries with significant numbers include China (37,908), Haiti (32,363), Iran (2,618), Pakistan (776), Uzbekistan (975), and Venezuela (22,749).
Since returning to office on January 20, President Donald Trump has ramped up efforts to enforce stricter immigration policies. His administration has already overseen the arrest of over 3,500 undocumented immigrants across the country, with deportation flights now in progress. Some deportations are being carried out using US military aircraft, a move that has drawn criticism from rights groups and foreign governments.
Colombia, for example, initially refused to accept deported citizens, citing concerns about mistreatment, including the use of handcuffs and military transport. However, the Colombian government later reversed its stance after facing economic pressure from the US government.
The ICE document also emphasized the US government’s expectation that all countries accept the return of their citizens who are deemed ineligible to remain in the US. It urged foreign governments to facilitate deportations by verifying citizenship, issuing travel documents promptly, and accepting deported individuals via commercial or charter flights.
Failure to comply, the document warned, could lead to countries being classified as "uncooperative" or at risk of "non-compliance," potentially triggering diplomatic and economic consequences.
According to estimates from the Pew Research Center, around 11 million undocumented immigrants currently live in the United States, a country with a total population of 341 million. The Trump administration remains committed to reducing this number through increased enforcement and deportations.
Комментарии