The US government has identified 3,690 Nigerians among 1.4 million “illegal migrants” with deportation orders, according to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These individuals have been on ICE’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal since November 24, 2024.
The non-detained docket includes people who have been ordered to leave the US or are in the process of being deported but are not being held by ICE. There are over 7 million people currently on this list, including those held in federal, state, or local jails but not directly in ICE custody.
Nigeria has the second-highest number of citizens slated for deportation in Africa, following Somalia with 4,090. Ghana has the third highest number. Globally, Mexico tops the list with 252,044, followed by Guatemala with 253,413, Honduras with 261,651, and El Salvador with 203,822.
Other countries on the list include China with 37,908 individuals facing final removal orders, Haiti with 32,363, Iran with 2,618, Pakistan with 776, Uzbekistan with 975, and Venezuela with 22,749.
The development is part of the US government’s efforts to crack down on immigration. President Donald Trump has intensified his efforts to execute “the largest deportation in American history” since his inauguration. The Trump-led administration has overseen the arrest of over 3,500 undocumented immigrants across the United States.
Deportation flights have commenced, with US military aircraft transporting migrants to their home countries or other designated nations. However, the move has been criticized by Democrats and rights groups in the US, who accuse the government of violating due process and human rights in the deportations.
Some foreign governments involved have also criticized the operation. The Colombian government initially refused to accept some of its deported citizens after accusing the US of mistreating them. However, Colombia later reversed its decision after being threatened with tariffs by President Trump.
According to estimates from the Pew Research Center, there are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. The ICE document notes that the US government believes every country is obligated to accept the return of its citizens and nationals who are ineligible to remain in the US.
The US government requests foreign governments to take appropriate steps to confirm the citizenship of noncitizens suspected to be their nationals. This includes conducting interviews, issuing travel documents in a timely manner, and accepting the physical return of their nationals by scheduled commercial or charter flights.
