Nigerians and other African immigrants living in the United States are increasingly anxious about potential deportations following the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration. This concern arises after U.S. President Donald Trump signed several executive orders tightening immigration policies, including ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.
The administration has already deported 538 Mexican immigrants and declared a national emergency at the southern border. Trump has emphasized plans to deport “criminal aliens,” with the U.S. Justice Department threatening to prosecute local and state authorities that fail to comply with federal immigration directives. According to Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, a large-scale deportation effort is “well underway.”
Speaking with Punch, several US-based Nigerians expressed fears that Africans might become the next focus of deportation efforts once current actions targeting Mexicans, Haitians, and Indians are complete.
Jacob Adegoke, a Nigerian-American and supporter of Trump, noted, “The current focus is on Mexicans and Haitians, but Africans are likely next.” Similarly, Nigerian media entrepreneur Obi-West Utchaychukwu confirmed that while Nigerians have been monitoring the situation, no arrests have been reported within their community yet.
However, many Nigerians have reportedly become more cautious. A source in New York, identified only as Adebayo for security reasons, shared, “There’s a lot of apprehension in the Nigerian community right now. While I haven’t witnessed any arrests, many undocumented Nigerians are worried. Even people with valid papers are being warned to be cautious.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have conducted numerous raids in businesses suspected of harboring undocumented immigrants. One such raid in Newark, New Jersey, led to the detention of an American military veteran and several undocumented individuals. This incident has further heightened tensions among immigrant communities.
Another source in New Jersey noted, “The arrest of a military veteran alongside undocumented residents has amplified the panic. But the fact that some U.S. states are challenging these executive orders provides some hope.”
A Nigerian immigration lawyer based in Maryland highlighted reports of ICE officials conducting searches in frozen food stores and other establishments in search of undocumented immigrants. According to the lawyer, Nigerians on student visas or similar temporary statuses also face uncertainty, particularly if they were hoping to transition to permanent residency.
The lawyer also warned that undocumented Nigerians with prior criminal records are at greater risk of deportation under the administration’s policies.
For many Nigerian immigrants, the fear of deportation has created a climate of anxiety, forcing them to limit their movements and reconsider their options in an increasingly uncertain environment.
