The Federal Government has expressed readiness to receive Nigerians who may be deported from the United States as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media and Corporate Affairs at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), confirmed on Tuesday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is overseeing the situation. He also revealed that an inter-agency committee has been established to manage any potential mass deportation.
“The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to handle the situation if Nigerians are deported from the U.S.,” Balogun stated.
However, he clarified that NiDCOM is not currently aware of any Nigerians being processed for deportation.
Reports indicate that approximately 3,690 Nigerians are at risk of removal from the U.S. following former President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. A document from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sighted by journalists, reveals that as of November 24, 2024, over 1.4 million non-citizens have final removal orders.
While Mexico and El Salvador top the list of affected countries, Nigerians and other African immigrants may soon face deportation. Last week, U.S. authorities arrested hundreds of undocumented migrants, with some already deported via military aircraft.
The Nigerian government continues to monitor the situation, assuring that necessary arrangements are in place to assist returnees if mass deportations occur.
