The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to deport 124 Nigerian nationals listed among foreign citizens identified as high priority criminal offenders in the country.
The agency disclosed the development through an official statement published on its website, where it also released the names and photographs of those scheduled for removal alongside individuals from several other countries.
The Department of Homeland Security said the deportation exercise forms part of an ongoing nationwide immigration enforcement campaign led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
The department said enforcement efforts are beginning with individuals described as the most serious criminal offenders living illegally in the United States.
The agency, however, did not specify when the deportations would take place.
Officials also did not provide individual case details beyond stating that those listed had been convicted of serious criminal offenses under U.S. law.
The published register includes Nigerians alongside nationals from countries including Niger, Cameroon, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mexico, Honduras and Cuba.
In its statement, the Department of Homeland Security said its immigration officers remain committed to carrying out mass deportations involving undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
The agency stated that immigration personnel are fulfilling President Trump’s directive by removing what it described as the most dangerous criminal offenders first.
Among the Nigerians identified by the department are Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, Marcus Unigwe, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau and Oriyomi Aloba.
The published register also includes Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla, Christian Ogunghide, Christopher Ojuma, Olamide Adedipe, Patrick Onogwu, Olajide Olateru Olagbegi and Omotayo Akinto.
Others identified include Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Ayibatonye Bienzigha, Uche Diuno, Akinwale Adaramaja, Boluwatife Afolabi, Chinonso Ochie, Olayinka A. Jones, Theophilus Anwana, Aishatu Umaru, Henry Idiagbonya, Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Daro Kosin, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Ifeanyi Echigeme, Kingsley Ibhadore, Suraj Tairu, Peter Equere, Dasola Abdulraheem, Adewale Aladekoba and Akeem Adeleke.
The remaining names include Bernard Ogie Oretekor, Abiemwense Obanor, Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola, Chukwuemeka Okorie, Abimbola Esan, Elizabeth Miller, Chima Orji, Adetunji Olofinlade, Abdul Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adeshewo, Dennis Ofuoma, Quazeem Adeyinka, Ifeanyi Okoro, Oluwaseun Kassim, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, Abraham Ola Osoko, Oluchi Jennifer and Chibuzo Nwaonu.
Information published by the Department of Homeland Security indicates that many of those listed were convicted of offenses including fraud, money laundering, wire fraud, theft, robbery, aggravated assault, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor, illegal possession of firearms, credit card offenses and related crimes.
The agency has not announced a timetable for carrying out the deportations, nor has it provided additional legal information regarding each individual case.
This marks the second large scale deportation announcement involving Nigerian nationals this year.
Earlier in 2026, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to deport 79 Nigerians identified under the same enforcement initiative. At that time, officials said those individuals had been convicted of offenses ranging from fraud and drug trafficking to assault, manslaughter and robbery.
The latest action comes as the Trump administration continues implementing a broader immigration strategy focused on stricter border controls, expanded deportations and tighter visa regulations affecting several countries.
What We Know So Far
The Department of Homeland Security said the latest enforcement action targets 124 Nigerian nationals identified among undocumented immigrants convicted of serious criminal offenses in the United States. The agency published the names and photographs of those listed alongside individuals from several other countries, including Niger, Cameroon, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mexico, Honduras and Cuba.
Although federal authorities confirmed the deportation plan, they have not announced when the removals will begin. Officials also have not released detailed court records or immigration case histories for each individual.
The department said many of those identified were convicted of crimes that include fraud, theft, money laundering, wire fraud, robbery, aggravated assault, illegal firearm possession, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and other criminal offenses.
The announcement follows another deportation list issued in February 2026, when 79 Nigerians were similarly identified for removal under the same immigration enforcement campaign.
The latest action comes as the Trump administration continues expanding immigration enforcement while introducing stricter visa requirements and tighter screening procedures for several countries, including Nigeria.
What Authorities Are Saying
The Department of Homeland Security said the deportation effort reflects the administration’s commitment to removing undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes before expanding enforcement to other immigration violations.
In its statement, the department said its officers are carrying out President Donald Trump’s directive to prioritize deportations involving individuals considered among the most dangerous criminal offenders.
The agency added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel remain focused on enforcing immigration laws while strengthening public safety through the removal of convicted offenders.
Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor Immigration and Customs Enforcement disclosed when the deportation process would begin or whether legal appeals remain pending for any of those listed.
Why This Matters
The latest deportation announcement highlights the increasingly aggressive direction of United States immigration policy under President Trump during his second administration.
Beyond the removal of convicted criminal offenders, the administration has introduced broader immigration reforms affecting international travel, visa issuance and permanent residency procedures.
Nigeria has become one of several African countries affected by those changes. In recent months, Washington imposed additional visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns involving identity verification, information sharing, visa overstays and national security screening.
The administration has also announced plans to reduce visa processing services at several diplomatic missions across Africa while considering new requirements that would compel some foreign nationals seeking permanent residency to complete parts of the immigration process from their home countries.
Immigration analysts note that these combined measures represent one of the most significant shifts in United States immigration enforcement in recent years and could have lasting implications for migration patterns, diplomatic relations and international travel.
What Happens Next
Federal immigration authorities are expected to continue processing deportation cases involving the individuals identified by the Department of Homeland Security.
Each case may still proceed through established immigration procedures, including any remaining legal reviews where applicable under United States law.
Meanwhile, immigration enforcement operations are expected to continue nationwide as the administration expands efforts targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions.
Observers also expect additional policy announcements involving visa processing, border security and immigration enforcement as the administration advances its broader immigration agenda.
The latest deportation announcement illustrates how immigration enforcement has become one of the defining priorities of the current Trump administration. While the Department of Homeland Security has emphasized that those identified were convicted of criminal offenses, the publication of names and photographs signals a strategy intended to demonstrate visible enforcement while reinforcing the administration’s public safety message.
For Nigeria, the development extends beyond the immediate deportation cases. It follows a series of policy decisions that have tightened travel and immigration opportunities for Nigerian citizens, including expanded visa restrictions and heightened screening requirements. Together, these measures suggest that immigration cooperation between Washington and Abuja may receive greater diplomatic attention in the coming months.
Legal experts also note that deportation announcements do not necessarily translate into immediate removals. Immigration proceedings often involve additional administrative reviews, travel documentation and coordination with receiving countries before deportations can be completed.
From a broader perspective, the latest announcement reflects a continuing shift in United States immigration policy toward stronger enforcement while placing increased emphasis on criminal convictions as the primary basis for removal. Whether this approach achieves its intended public safety objectives or generates additional diplomatic and legal challenges will likely become clearer as implementation continues.
Sources: PUNCH Metro and Premium Times Nigeria.
