The United States has released an updated deportation list containing the names and photographs of 124 Nigerians, intensifying concerns over the country’s renewed immigration enforcement and the growing number of Africans affected by the policy.
The list, published on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), identified the Nigerians as part of its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register. However, the agency did not disclose the specific offences allegedly committed by the individuals or provide a timeline for their deportation.
According to the DHS, the publication forms part of ongoing nationwide enforcement operations targeting non-citizens convicted of serious crimes. The department said immigration officers had been directed to focus on migrants considered threats to public safety and national security.
In a statement, the department said the enforcement campaign is being carried out under President Donald Trump’s directive to intensify mass deportations. Immigration authorities said officers have been instructed to expand operations across the United States to identify and remove deportable migrants with criminal records.
The latest action follows a series of stricter immigration policies introduced after President Trump returned to office in January 2025. On his first day back in office, he signed executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to strengthen border security and accelerate deportation efforts.
Although U.S. immigration enforcement has historically been concentrated in Latin America, recent data indicate that deportation operations have expanded to include Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
Nigeria has come under increased scrutiny in recent months, particularly after the United States imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens in June, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstays and security screening.
The publication of the names and photographs of the affected Nigerians is expected to raise concerns among Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora, as U.S. authorities have given no indication that the ongoing immigration crackdown will be scaled back.
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