Nigeria has secured the third spot among African nations for the highest number of deportations from the United States between 2020 and 2025, according to data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A total of 437 Nigerian nationals were removed during this period, with many facing deportation due to criminal convictions or final removal orders issued by immigration judges.
ICE’s enforcement actions are conducted under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, which grants officers in the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division the authority to remove non-citizens with final orders of removal.
The data sheds light on the persistent challenge faced by the U.S. in handling individuals with criminal backgrounds. In 2024, of the 271,484 removals carried out, 32.7% (88,763 individuals) had criminal histories, which included charges or convictions for offenses such as assault, sexual assault, weapons offenses, and even homicide.
Below is the list of African countries ranked by the number of deportations from the U.S. between 2020 and 2025:
- Senegal – 689
- Mauritania – 481
- Nigeria – 437
- Egypt – 387
- Ghana – 276
- Angola – 227
- Cameroon – 166
- Guinea – 162
- Somalia – 154
- Kenya – 131
The data highlights ongoing concerns over immigration enforcement and its impact on African nations, including Nigeria.
