The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that the Federal Government is ready to receive Nigerians who may be deported from the United States.
Speaking on Tuesday evening, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM’s Director of Media and Corporate Affairs, stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is leading efforts to handle the situation.
He further revealed that an inter-agency committee has been established to manage the process should mass deportations occur. The committee includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Despite these preparations, Balogun clarified that NiDCOM has no knowledge of any immediate deportation orders against Nigerians in the US.
Recent reports indicate that about 3,690 Nigerians could face deportation following the US government’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants. A document from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reviewed on Tuesday categorizes deportation cases by nationality, listing Nigeria among affected countries.
As of November 24, 2024, ICE records show that 1,445,549 non-citizens remain on the agency’s non-detained docket with final removal orders. The report also highlights Mexico and El Salvador as the most affected nations, with 252,044 and 203,822 individuals, respectively, facing deportation.
ICE, responsible for combating illegal immigration and cross-border crimes, has ramped up enforcement operations. Last Thursday, hundreds of undocumented migrants were detained, while others were deported via military aircraft as part of the US government’s mass deportation efforts.
The development raises concerns that undocumented Nigerians and other African immigrants could be the next targets of the ongoing crackdown.
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