Many Nigerians living illegally in the United States are now afraid of being arrested and sent back home. Because of this, they have stopped going to work, church, and other public places to avoid being caught by immigration officers.
This fear started after President Donald Trump signed new laws to remove illegal immigrants. Some Nigerians in the U.S. say they are hoping that legal cases against Trump’s policies will slow down the deportation process.
Thousands of Nigerians Face Deportation
A report from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that about 3,690 Nigerians are on a deportation list.
The report also lists other countries, with Mexico and El Salvador having the highest numbers of people facing deportation.
On his first day in office, Trump signed new immigration orders, including removing birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.
The U.S. Justice Department has also warned that states and local authorities must follow Trump’s immigration rules or face legal action.
Because of these new laws, 538 illegal immigrants were deported on January 23. Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has also confirmed that the largest deportation operation in U.S. history is now happening.
Nigerians Speak on Their Fear
According to the PUNCH, some Nigerians living in the U.S. say they have decided to stay inside their homes to avoid being arrested. One man living in Tampa, Florida, said he stopped going to work because ICE officers could come at any time.
“Ever since Trump came to power and acted on his threat of deportation, some of us have stopped going to work because ICE officers can raid workplaces to arrest illegal immigrants at any time.
“I work in a factory with many other Nigerians and Africans. Some other Africans who are also illegal immigrants have stopped going to work. The fear of Trump is the beginning of wisdom now.
“I don’t go to church anymore because it is possible to be arrested there. For now, the only safe place is your house—stay indoors,” he said.
Another Nigerian in Columbus, Ohio, said Nigerians might not be the main targets, but anyone without proper documents could be arrested.
He added that those with criminal records are being deported first, but the government is now going after others as well.
“The best self-defence is to stay out of trouble, and the best way to avoid being deported is to stay out of sight of ICE officers,” he said.
Some Nigerians say they have lost a lot of money while trying to get legal papers. One man, who moved to the U.S. in 2013, said he had spent almost $30,000 trying to become a legal resident but had not been successful.
Churches Advise Nigerians to Stay Home
Many Nigerian churches in the U.S. have now advised their members who are undocumented to stay home and attend online services.
A Nigerian Uber driver in New York, who gave his name as Mathew, said many of his Nigerian colleagues had stopped driving for now. “A lot of my Nigerian colleagues are not coming out for now. They can’t just risk it. They are all afraid of deportation,” he said.
Government Confirms 201 Nigerians in Custody
The Nigerian government has said that 201 Nigerians are currently being held by U.S. immigration officials and are set to be deported. However, officials say they have not yet received details on when the deportations will happen.
A spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said that before any Nigerian is deported, the U.S. must officially inform the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC.
He also said Nigerian officials would make plans to help those returning.
Fewer Nigerians Traveling to the U.S.
Trump’s immigration policies are also affecting Nigerians who want to travel to the U.S. Some students who planned to study there are now looking for other countries because they are afraid of facing difficulties with visas or being sent back home after arrival.
A Nigerian education consultant, Sulaimon Okewole, said many students are now considering other countries because of the situation in the U.S.
“It will be very difficult for Nigerians to study in the country now as they will tighten requirements and all. Schools in the US offer scholarships to encourage international students, but this still doesn’t guarantee a visa.
“What we’re doing here now is finding alternatives for our clients. Just like when the United Kingdom introduced a policy on dependents,” he said.
A student, Wale Dada, said he wanted to start his Master’s degree in the U.S. this year, but now he is thinking of changing his plans.
“With what I have heard about the orders, I do not think I will proceed with the preparations. I cannot afford to leave the country only to get there and be rejected or treated like a criminal. I believe this order will severely impact my plans and those of many people like me,” he said.
