The United States Department of Homeland Security has released the names and photographs of 124 Nigerians slated for deportation as part of an intensified immigration enforcement campaign targeting foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.
The agency disclosed the development in a statement published on its official website, saying those listed were among individuals classified as the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Although the identities of the affected Nigerians have been made public, the department did not disclose when the deportation process would begin or provide details of the specific offences for which they were convicted.
According to the DHS, the deportation exercise forms part of the ongoing immigration enforcement drive under the administration of President Donald Trump.
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the statement read.
It added that immigration officials had been directed to implement the administration’s mass deportation policy by prioritising foreign nationals convicted of serious criminal offences.
The latest action follows a series of executive orders signed by President Trump upon his return to office on January 20, 2025, declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to strengthen border security and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants.
One of the directives, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed immigration authorities to prioritise the arrest and deportation of removable migrants considered threats to public safety and national security.
The White House has defended the policy, maintaining that it is aimed at enforcing immigration laws and removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records in line with the administration’s immigration agenda.
Official U.S. immigration figures indicate that Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador have recorded the highest number of deportees since the renewed crackdown began, with enforcement operations also expanding to countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
Nigeria has also faced increased scrutiny from the U.S. government in recent months. In June, Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening.
The Department of Homeland Security has published the complete list of the 124 Nigerians alongside their photographs on its official platform. However, it has yet to announce a timeline for their deportation or release details of the offences attributed to each individual.
