The governments of the United States and Nigeria are currently refining their strategies for the deportation of 201 Nigerians who have been cleared for eviction as part of the mass deportation campaign led by President Donald Trump’s administration.
This upcoming deportation initiative was revealed during a meeting in Abuja between US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills, US Regional Population/Refugees/Migration Coordinator Melissa Sandoval, and Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
In a post on its official X account, the US Mission in Nigeria highlighted that the meeting aimed to fine-tune the strategies for the repatriation of the affected Nigerians, ensuring that their dignity is maintained throughout the process.
The US government also emphasized the importance of coordination with humanitarian partners and the oversight role of the Nigerian government in the repatriation efforts.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that at least 201 Nigerians in various US immigration camps were slated for deportation. She explained that 85 of these individuals, including convicted criminals, had been cleared and were awaiting removal.
This revelation came after Vanguard reported that 5,144 Nigerians could be affected in the initial phase of the ongoing deportation exercise. According to an analysis of data from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 3,690 of the 5,144 Nigerians were in the ICE non-detained docket with final orders of removal, while 1,454 were in ICE detention. Additionally, 772 out of the 1,454 detained Nigerians had been arrested for criminal convictions or were awaiting criminal charges and final removal orders.
The US Mission’s tweet stated: “Ambassador Richard Mills and Regional Population/Refugees/Migration Coordinator Melissa Sandoval met with Minister Nentawe Yilwatda to discuss strategies for effective repatriations, emphasizing transparency, coordination with humanitarian partners, and federal government oversight.”
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both the United States and Nigeria to work together in facilitating a sustainable repatriation process that respects the dignity of returnees and fosters a safer, stronger future for both nations.
