The United States has started deportation process for Nigerian nationals, including 85 individuals ready to arrive in Lagos, while 116 others remain in custody.
The Federal Government, via the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has relayed interests over the process, clamouring for a more humane procedure.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a publication endorsed by her media aide, Magnus Eze, on Sunday, revealed that “with about 201 Nigerians currently detained in US immigration centres and about 85 cleared for deportation,” the government is advocating for adherence to internationally prescribed guidelines.
Similarly, she buttressed the government’s stance in a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, titled “US Deportations Begin.”
Lagos has been earmarked as Sole Deportation Destination
The United States also affirmed that deported Nigerians will be moved directly to Lagos.
Mills stated that persons observing prison sentences in the US would be among the first set of deportees.
“Those to be repatriated would be dropped in Lagos. There would not be room for whether it should be in Port Harcourt or Abuja.
“The first group will be convicted prisoners—those who committed crimes and are in US prisons. Some of them are those who have clearly violated US immigration laws.
“They appealed but were denied yet they are still in the US. They have committed immigration crimes, people who have been ordered to leave,” Mills said.
Bianca revealed contentions over the emotional and financial impact of deportations on Nigerians in the US and their relatives, highlighting the need for humane and adherence processes.
“With the new administration in the US, we want a situation where there will be commitments. If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return.
“At the moment, we’re told that about 201 Nigerian nationals are in US immigration camps, and about 85 have been cleared for deportation.
“Will there be any way of ameliorating their pains? This has been of great interest to not just Nigerian nationals in the US but relatives in Nigeria who are depending on them for daily living.
“We are asking as a country whether they will be given ample time to handle their assets or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated? It will really be traumatic, especially for those who had not committed any violent crime,” she asked.
Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
The deportation procedure follows a wide immigration crackdown by the Donald Trump Government. On his assumption of office as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump signed several executive orders aimed at putting measures on immigration policies.
These involves negating birthright citizenship for children of immigrants without documents and declaration of national emergency at the US-Mexico border.
Trump’s immigration policies has sparked reactions among international communities.
