The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to deport an additional 18 Nigerian nationals classified on its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register.
This brings the total number of Nigerians marked for removal to 97 as part of an expanding immigration enforcement drive.
The update, first published on the DHS website on Monday, comes barely a week after reports indicated that 79 Nigerians had been listed for deportation in the latest phase of crackdowns targeting non-citizens convicted of serious offenses in the United States.
According to the updated list, the newly added Nigerians were convicted of various crimes including wire fraud, mail fraud and identity theft, which are among the offenses cited by U.S. immigration authorities.
In an accompanying statement, DHS said the arrests were conducted as part of an ongoing nationwide operation to remove “criminal immigrants” from U.S. soil.
The department stressed that the initiative focuses on individuals with serious criminal histories who pose risks to public safety.
“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 statement read, noting that personnel are working to fulfill enforcement priorities outlined by the administration.
This development comes amid intensified U.S. immigration enforcement under current administrative policies that prioritize the removal of non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.
In recent weeks, immigration authorities highlighted dozens of Nigerians on a similar deportation list, citing convictions ranging from fraud and violent crime to drug-related offenses.
The growing lists of Nigerians targeted for deportation reflect a broader trend in U.S. immigration policy that has included revoking or restricting visas and increasing removals for criminal offenses.
Affected individuals will be processed through U.S. immigration channels and, once removal orders are enforced, repatriated to Nigeria.
The Nigerian government and diaspora organisations have historically engaged with U.S. authorities on matters of deportation, emphasizing the need for adherence to legal standards and humane treatment of detainees in such operations.
