U.S. authorities have identified 201 Nigerians for deportation as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to combat illegal immigration.
The individuals slated for deportation include convicted prisoners and others who have committed various offenses.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, provided a hint about the development during a visit from U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, at the Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.
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“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?” Bianca said, calling for a dignified repatriation.
“This has been of great concern to not just Nigerian nationals in the US but family members in Nigeria who depend on them for survival, children whose school fees are paid for by these diasporans.”
“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 have not committed any violent crime,” the minister was quoted as saying in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Communication & New Media Magnus Eze.
The statement was made in the context of the suspension of the Drop Box Visa System, which may complicate visa applications for Nigerians.
Bianca, however, urged the U.S. government to clarify its position on the visa policy and consider its potential impact on Nigerians who wish to visit the U.S. for legitimate purposes.
She also raised concerns about possible changes to the U.S. student visa policy, noting that over 14,000 Nigerian students are currently in the U.S.
Additionally, the minister highlighted uncertainty regarding the future of USAID operations in Nigeria, seeking assurances that NGOs would continue their work despite any potential alterations.
“We can’t say whether it’s outright suspension. A lot of NGOs are worried about getting clarifications. We will just make that appeal on behalf of the NGOs in Nigeria, even less than a month into the 90-day review, there have been concerns. And I know before the completion of the review, there are already humanitarian issues in Nigeria and Africa.
“We will make an appeal that this initiative be preserved, even if it’s abrogated as an agency, there must be a way of keeping the ideals to ensure that the poor beneficiaries in the communities, not just in Nigeria but Africa, are not abandoned.”
Mills, for his part, assured that the U.S. government would clarify its stance in due time, especially concerning the Drop Box Visa System and the future of USAID operations.
Mills said, “Those to be repatriated would be dropped in Lagos. There wouldn’t 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 crime, people who have been ordered to leave.”
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