U.S. immigration authorities said Monday they are preparing to deport a Nigerian national identified as Ibrahim Tunde Ijaoba, citing a lengthy criminal record that includes violent offenses, gang involvement, drug sales and an escape from police custody.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement described Ijaoba as a “criminal illegal alien” who entered the United States unlawfully and later became affiliated with the Bloods, a street gang widely known for violent crime and organized criminal activity in several states. ICE said his convictions demonstrate a sustained pattern of behavior that posed a threat to public safety.
According to the agency, Ijaoba’s criminal history includes aggravated assault on a police officer involving a firearm, multiple assault and aggravated assault convictions, armed robbery, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking offenses and fleeing from lawful custody. ICE said those convictions formed the legal basis for his removal from the United States.
In a statement posted to its official X account, ICE said Ijaoba is currently being held in immigration custody under a final order of removal and will be deported to Nigeria. The agency did not disclose when the deportation is expected to take place.
ICE said the Bloods gang, with which Ijaoba was previously associated, has long been linked to violent crime, narcotics distribution and armed robberies across the country. Federal authorities have intensified efforts in recent years to remove noncitizens convicted of serious crimes as part of broader public safety enforcement operations.
Ijaoba’s case highlights ongoing U.S. immigration enforcement actions targeting individuals with felony convictions and gang ties, particularly those who entered the country illegally and later accumulated violent criminal records, ICE said.
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