The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced that the Federal Government is prepared to receive deported Nigerians from the United States. Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs for NiDCOM, stated in a recent interview that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is overseeing this initiative.
He confirmed that an inter-agency committee has been established to manage any potential deportations from the U.S., involving various government bodies, including NiDCOM and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
Balogun emphasized that NiDCOM is not currently aware of any Nigerians in the U.S. facing deportation proceedings. This statement comes amid reports indicating that approximately 3,690 Nigerians are at risk of deportation due to stricter immigration policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Recent data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) further reveals that as of November 24, 2024, there are over 1.4 million non-citizens with final removal orders, with Mexico and El Salvador having the highest numbers.
The ICE is tasked with addressing illegal immigration and cross-border crime, which are seen as threats to national security.
