Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu called on the United States to follow established procedures when deporting Nigerian immigrants with illegal documents.
Her appeal was made after a meeting with US Ambassador Richard Mills Jr., who recently visited the ministry’s offices in Abuja.
In his speech, Odumegwu Ojukwu called for firm commitments from the US government, stressing that if deportations are necessary, they must be carried out with dignity.
The minister confirmed that the first batch of Nigerians deported by the United States will arrive in Nigeria on Monday, February 17, 2025, the BBC reported.
Mr. Ojukwu’s appeal to the United States
The minister’s statement via Page X emphasized that many Nigerians in the United States are facing mental and economic hardships following the new administration’s policy of subjecting certain categories of immigrants to deportation.
“We want a commitment from the new US administration: If deportation is necessary, it must be done with dignity,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
The minister further disclosed that approximately 201 Nigerians are currently being held in US migrant camps, and approximately 85 have already been approved for deportation.
“Will they be given time to manage their assets or will they simply be packed onto a plane and sent back?” she asked, highlighting the trauma that deportation can cause.
He stressed that deportation affects not only those being deported, but also their families in Nigeria, who depend on remittances for their livelihood and education. Mr. Odumegwu Ojukwu stressed the importance of treating expelled individuals with dignity and giving them the opportunity to properly resolve their issues before returning home.
“I underlined the fact that deportation, especially for individuals without a violent criminal history, should not be traumatic and sudden, and that these individuals should be given sufficient time to deal with their assets, rather than simply being bundled onto a plane and repatriated,” the minister added.
According to a statement by Mrs. Odumegwu Ojukwu’s media aide, Mr. Magnus Eze, the US envoy has made it clear that the deported migrants will be returned to Lagos, ruling out Port Harcourt and Abuja as alternatives.
“The first group consists of convicted prisoners, prisoners who have committed crimes and are currently incarcerated in U.S. prisons,” the envoy said.
He further explained that some deportees violated U.S. immigration law by staying in the country after their appeals were denied.
US position on illegal immigration
Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promises included a massive domestic deportation operation, prioritizing border security, stopping illegal immigration and enforcing removal orders.
President Trump’s plan has been criticized for disproportionately influencing these groups and potentially leading to economic and political instability in their home countries.
The administration has made immigration enforcement a top priority, focusing on forcibly removing individuals without legal permission.
This policy has had a severe impact on African countries and has raised concerns within migrant communities regarding mass deportations, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as families, asylum seekers, and long-term residents.
African immigrants from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Somalia, and Senegal are at increased risk of deportation.
