85 Deported Nigerians Set to Arrive in Lagos from the US on Monday
The United States has initiated deportation proceedings for Nigerian nationals, with 85 individuals expected to arrive in Lagos soon. Another 116 individuals remain in custody.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, shared details of the process during a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.
Mills confirmed that the first group of deportees would include individuals currently serving prison sentences in the US.
“The repatriated individuals will be dropped off in Lagos, with no consideration for Port Harcourt or Abuja,” Mills stated. “The first group will be those convicted of crimes, including those who violated US immigration laws. Some have appealed their deportation orders, but their requests were denied. These individuals are required to leave the US.”
Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed her concerns about the deportation process in a statement issued by her media aide, Magnus Eze, on Sunday. She noted that around 201 Nigerians are currently held in US immigration centers, with 85 already cleared for deportation. She emphasized the government’s advocacy for strict adherence to international guidelines in handling the process.
Bianca also addressed the emotional and financial hardships that deportations bring to both the individuals involved and their families back home. She shared her concerns in a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, titled “US Deportations Begin.”
“Under the new US administration, we are looking for a process where deportations are handled with dignity,” she said. “There are many Nigerians in the US who financially support their families back home. Many rely on them for their children’s education and other needs. We are asking if these deportees will have time to settle their affairs before being deported, or if they will simply be forced onto planes. The process can be traumatic, especially for those who haven’t committed violent crimes.”
Bianca reiterated that ensuring a respectful and compliant approach to deportations remains a key concern for Nigeria.
