US authorities to deport 97 Nigerians categorised under "Worst-of-the-Worst

United States (US) immigration authorities have expanded a nationwide enforcement operation, listing a further 18 Nigerians for immediate deportation.

This latest action brings the total number of Nigerian nationals earmarked for removal to 97, as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intensifies its crackdown on foreign nationals with criminal convictions.

For Nigerians living and working in the US, this development signals a period of heightened scrutiny. While the current list focuses on those with criminal convictions, the “mass deportation” rhetoric creates an atmosphere of uncertainty for the broader diaspora. Legal residents and workers may face increased administrative hurdles and more rigorous background checks during visa renewals or residency applications

The move follows a series of coordinated arrests conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials across several states.

According to a statement released on the DHS website, the individuals are being processed under an expanded mandate targeting those the administration describes as high-priority criminal offenders.

Targets of the “Worst-of-the-Worst” programme

The DHS has categorised the latest group of deportees under its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal immigrants programme.

Officials allege that the 18 individuals added to the list have been linked to serious financial crimes, including wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft, offences the department claims pose significant security and financial risks to the American public.

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In an official statement, the DHS outlined the administrative justification for the removals:

“The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst.”

The list of 18 includes notable names such as Obinwanne Okeke, Alex Ogunshakin, and Benjamin Ifebajo, alongside others, including Oluwaseyanu Afolabi, Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe, and Kolawole Aminu.

The agency confirmed that the deportation process would commence immediately, in strict adherence to U.S. immigration statutes.

The political context

The recent surge in enforcement reflects the broader immigration policy shift following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025. Since returning to office, the administration has moved swiftly to enforce a “strict alien immigration policy,” prioritising the removal of non-citizens with criminal records.

As the DHS operation expands, there is a strong possibility that more names will be added to the list in the coming months, potentially extending beyond those with “serious” criminal convictions to broader categories of immigration offenders.

Ngozi Ekugo

Ngozi Ekugo is a Senior Correspondent at BusinessDay. She holds a Masters in management from the University of Lagos, an undergraduate from University of Lagos, and is in an alumni of Queen's College. Shes currently an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM). She has a brief experience at Goldman sachs, London in its Human Capital Management division. She is interested in human capital development and is leveraging her varied experience across sectors to report labour and global mobility trends for stakeholders to make informed decisions.