US to deport 85 Nigerians to Lagos
The United States is set to return Nigerian deportees under former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, with a first batch of 85 deportees to be sent to Lagos, according to a statement from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, February 16.
Richard Miller, the US envoy to Nigeria, confirmed that these 85 deportees are part of a larger group of over 200 Nigerians currently in US immigration detention, awaiting deportation in line with Trump’s policies. Although a specific date for the repatriation was not given, Miller clarified that the deportees would be dropped off in Lagos, with no possibility of being sent to other Nigerian cities like Port Harcourt or Abuja.
The first group of deportees will consist of convicted individuals who have either committed crimes in the US or violated immigration laws. These individuals, who have exhausted appeals, have been ordered to leave the country.
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In response, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, urged the US to ensure the deportation process is conducted with dignity. She expressed concerns over the emotional and financial strain on the deportees and their families, particularly regarding potential changes to US visa policies. Odumegwu-Ojukwu also raised the issue of the US potentially suspending the Drop Box Visa System, which she argued could negatively impact over 14,000 Nigerian students in the US.
The minister called for an official US statement to clarify its position on the Drop Box system and highlighted the need for deportations to be handled respectfully, allowing deportees adequate time to manage their affairs before leaving. She emphasized the trauma caused by deportation, not only to the individuals involved but also to their families in Nigeria who rely on remittances for survival and education.
Reports indicated that over 3,690 Nigerians were scheduled for deportation from the US, as part of the broader enforcement of Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The operation has included raids and arrests in several US cities, such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, targeting undocumented immigrants.
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