Nigeria accounted for the largest share of African deportees, followed by Senegal (716) and Ghana (582).
The United States has deported 902 Nigerians since 2019, according to the 2024 Annual Report of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Another 3,690 Nigerians remain under final removal orders.
Despite a 51.7% decline in Nigerian deportations since 2019, ICE data show spikes during Donald Trump’s presidency, with possible resurgence in 2025.
Nigeria accounted for the largest share of African deportees, followed by Senegal (716) and Ghana (582). ICE attributed rising removals to the Electronic Nationality Verification system, which shortened deportation processing times.
Globally, Mexico topped the list with 434,827 deportations over the period.
At a February meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, urged the US to ensure humane deportations, asking, “Will they be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated?”
The Federal Government, through NiDCOM, says it has set up an inter-agency committee to assist deported Nigerians.