The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that the Nigerian government is prepared to receive deported Nigerians from the United States. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs at NiDCOM, explained in a Tuesday evening interview with Vanguard that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is overseeing such matters.
Balogun further mentioned that the federal government has established an inter-agency committee to manage the situation if Nigerians are deported from the US. “The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US,” Balogun stated.
However, NiDCOM clarified that, as of now, it is unaware of any Nigerians in the United States being processed for deportation. This comes as reports highlight that approximately 3,690 Nigerians in the US are currently facing potential deportation due to Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.
A document obtained by our correspondent from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday reveals that, as of November 24, 2024, there are 1,445,549 non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders. The document, titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” shows that Mexico and El Salvador have the highest deportation figures, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively.
ICE’s role is to safeguard the United States from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that poses a threat to national security. In a related development, last Thursday, hundreds of migrants were arrested, and some were flown out of the US on military aircraft as part of Trump’s mass deportation initiative, which has begun in earnest.
Nigerians, along with other African immigrants in the US, could soon be the next group targeted for deportation. The ongoing operation is raising concerns among immigrant communities, including those of Nigerian descent, as it could potentially affect a significant number of individuals. The Nigerian government’s preparations through NiDCOM and other agencies signal its readiness to address the potential influx of deported citizens, ensuring their safe return and reintegration.
