United States to Deport Ninety-Seven Nigerians in Expanded Immigration Enforcement Drive: What New Updates You Need to Know

Published on February 11, 2026

The United States Government has deported 97 Nigerian nationals as part of a national immigration enforcement initiative aimed at Nigerian nationals who have committed crimes, as stated by United States Government publications. This means that there has been a revision of who is likely to be deported from the United States according to immigration law.

DHS and ICE Operations

One of the publications on the DHS website states that 18 of the Nigerian nationals have been updated to the list, meaning that the new number is 97 instead of 79. This is part of the Nigerian deportation project led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in what they call a national initiative to deport foreigners who have been convicted of crimes.

The “worst of the worst” describes the people in a country who are foreigners and have committed a crime, and that is what the officials describe as an enforcement priority. These actions are part of the federal laws regarding immigrants who are not citizens, designed to keep the country safe.

Criminal Offences Additions to Expanded List

Updated statistics show that newly registered Nigerian nationals were involved in cases of alleged wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft, crimes that U.S. immigration officials use to justify case prioritization to defend removals. These crimes that affect finances or involve identity theft are a few examples of types of cases that can lead to a non-citizen’s deportation from the U.S. under immigration law.

Including these people on the deportation roster is part of a larger pattern of non-citizen serious crime enforcement. It is consistent with previously issued enforcement lists and current operational priorities of the DHS and ICE.

Procedural Context and Legal Grounds for Removal

A long-established principle in U.S. immigration law serves as the basis for removal actions such as these and provides the means for locating and deporting non-citizen criminals. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) stipulates that certain criminal convictions, particularly aggravated felonies or fraud-based crimes, can initiate removal. These crimes appear to be the most actionable and have been the most litigated in the last several decades in the context of administrative and judicial interpretation of the law.

An expanded list and corresponding enforcement actions show the federal authorities’ use of enforcement actions for removal orders against individuals identified through ICE enforcement actions. The removal process can be lengthy and involve multiple administrative actions, but once U.S. immigration law enforcement actions take effect, identified individuals for deportation will be executed to their countries of origin.

Implications for Bilateral Relations and Community Response

The increase in immigration enforcement actions against Nigerian nationals will be of significant concern to both Nigerian diplomats and to the Nigerian diaspora. Previous instances of deportation and visa cancellations have led to direct engagement of U.S. government officials and Nigeria, and to discussions about compliance with legal obligations and the rights of individuals subject to removal orders.

U.S. immigration policies are controversial. There is a constant pull between enforcement and advocacy for fair process and due process for non-citizens being removed. The inclusion of Nigerian nationals on the enforcement lists shows how complicated and operationally challenging the navigating of the different federal agencies involves.

As operational enforcement continues, additional updates might possibly arise regarding additional lists, changes to the timing of removals, and other changes as ICE is implementing the directives of the current administration.

U.S. Shifts Focus on Enforcement, Nigerians Deported to Africa Under Immigration Law

The growing list of 97 Nigerian nationals being deported from the U.S. is demonstrative of a long-standing and deepening phase of U.S. immigration enforcement policy. This policy has a direct impact on the movement of people, the law, and USA-Nigerian relations in North America and North Africa.