The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it plans to deport at least 79 Nigerians convicted of serious crimes and listed on what it described as its “worst of the worst” criminal register.
Information posted on the DHS website on Monday showed that the Nigerians were convicted of offences including fraud, drug trafficking, assault, manslaughter and robbery.
An accompanying note said the individuals were arrested as part of a broader U.S. crackdown on criminal immigrants.
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the note said. It added that, under the leadership of DHS officials, the agency and ICE were carrying out President Donald Trump’s directive to prioritise deportations of convicted criminals.
The list includes dozens of Nigerians convicted of various offences across the United States.
The Trump administration has intensified enforcement actions against criminal and undocumented immigrants, with Nigerians among those affected by the policy.
It was also learned that some Nigerians have gone into hiding, while others are quietly returning home amid the stepped-up deportation campaign by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
