US publishes names of 124 Nigerians designated for deportation

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published the names and photographs of 124 Nigerians classified as the "worst of the worst" criminal offenders, designating them for deportation as part of an intensified immigration enforcement operation. The individuals were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and convicted of serious crimes including assault and wire fraud, though the agency did not provide specific details about individual offences. The DHS announcement on Wednesday did not specify a timeline for deportations or clarify when removal proceedings would commence.

The deportation list represents a continuation of immigration enforcement measures introduced by President Donald Trump following his return to office on January 20, 2025. On his first day in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to intensify border security and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants. One executive order, titled "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," prioritized the arrest and deportation of removable migrants considered threats to public safety and national security.

The DHS framed the action as fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to carry out mass deportations beginning with criminal offenders. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the policy, stating the administration remained committed to enforcing immigration laws and removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records. The broader enforcement initiative has included visa restrictions on Nigerian nationals over visa overstays and other compliance issues imposed in June 2025, as well as previous deportations to Ghana and other third countries.

The deportation list includes 124 Nigerians among foreign nationals from multiple countries including Cuba, Cameroon, Niger, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mexico, and Honduras. The published names span individuals such as Sunday Adediora, Marcus Unigwe, Ejike Asiegbunam, and numerous others, though the complete list numbers over the stated 124 Nigerians when cross-referenced with agency publications. The U.S. immigration authorities emphasized that those listed had undergone conviction proceedings for serious crimes, though they declined to specify individual offences or provide deportation schedules.