Published February 11, 2026
The US government has deported 97 Nigerians as part of a nationwide immigration enforcement initiative targeting Nigerians who have committed crimes, as stated in a US government publication. This means that the list of people who can be deported from the United States under immigration law has been revised.
DHS and ICE operations
One of the publications on the DHS website states that 18 of the Nigerians have been updated to the list, meaning the new number is 97 instead of 79. This is called the National Initiative to Deport Foreign Nationals Convicted of Crimes and is part of the Nigerian Deportation Project led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The “worst of the worst” refers to foreign nationals who commit crimes in the country, and authorities make this a priority for enforcement. These measures are part of the federal law on noncitizen immigration, which is intended to protect the country’s security.
Add criminal offense to expanded list
Newly registered Nigerian citizens are involved in cases of suspected wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft, according to the latest statistics, crimes that U.S. immigration officials use to justify case prioritization to defend deportation. These crimes, which involve financial impact crimes and identity theft, are just a few of the types of cases that can result in noncitizens being deported from the United States under immigration law.
The inclusion of these people on deportation lists is part of a larger pattern of crackdowns on serious crimes against non-nationals. This is consistent with previously published enforcement lists and DHS and ICE’s current operational priorities.
Procedural background and legal basis for deletion
Long-established principles of U.S. immigration law serve as the basis for such deportation actions, providing a means to locate and deport criminal noncitizens. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides that certain criminal convictions can initiate deportation, particularly for aggravated felonies or crimes based on fraud. These crimes appear to be the most litigious and most litigated in recent decades from the perspective of administrative and judicial interpretation of the law.
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The expanded list and corresponding enforcement actions represent enforcement actions against deportation orders by federal authorities against individuals identified through ICE enforcement actions. Although the deportation process can take time and involve multiple administrative actions, once U.S. immigration enforcement actions go into effect, individuals identified for deportation will be executed in their country of origin.
Implications for bilateral relations and community responses
Increased immigration enforcement against Nigerian nationals will be of grave concern to both Nigerian diplomats and Nigerians in the diaspora. Previous deportation and visa cancellation cases have involved direct engagement between U.S. government officials and Nigeria to discuss compliance with legal obligations and the rights of individuals subject to deportation orders.
US immigration policy is controversial. There is a constant tension between enforcement and the protection of fair process and due process for noncitizens. The inclusion of Nigerian nationals on the enforcement list illustrates how complex and operationally difficult the various federal agencies’ response is.
As operational enforcement continues, additional updates may occur regarding additional listings, changes to the timing of removals, and other changes as ICE implements the current administration’s directives.
US shifts focus to enforcement; Nigerians deported to Africa under immigration law
The growing list of 97 Nigerians to be deported from the United States shows that America’s immigration enforcement policies have deepened over the years. This policy directly impacts the movement of people, laws, and U.S.-Nigeria relations in North America and North Africa.
