Headline

US-based Nigerians Go Into Hiding Amid Trump’s Deportation Crackdown

Published

11 months ago

February 1, 2025

Nigerian illegal immigrants in the United States have disclosed that they have restricted their movements to public places to avoid being arrested and deported.

This came as they expressed optimism that they would be protected against deportation by the many lawsuits filed against President Donald Trump over his immigration policies.

Some of the illegal immigrants, who spoke to The PUNCH, said they had refrained from going to work, church, and public places since Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States as a sacrifice to continue staying in the country.

3,690 Nigerians face deportation

About 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are facing deportation, according to a document compiled by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Removal Operations.

The document, titled, ‘Non-citizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,’ shows that Mexico and El Salvador top the list of nations facing the highest number of deportations, with 252,044 and 203,822, respectively.

As revealed in the document, 1,445,549 non-citizens were on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders as of November 24, 2024.

On his inauguration day, Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at toughening immigration policies, including the termination of birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.

The US Justice Department also threatened to prosecute local and state authorities that failed to comply with Trump’s immigration directives, which included a pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Following the directive, 538 illegal immigrants were deported from the United States on January 23.

We no longer go out – Nigerian immigrants

Meanwhile, Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, disclosed on her official X handle that the largest deportation operation in history was underway.

Reports had it earlier that Nigerians and other African illegal immigrants in the United States might be the next targets for deportation by the American government.

However, our correspondents gathered that the affected Nigerians had devised means to avoid being deported, expressing fear that their forced return to Nigeria might spell doom for them.

In separate interviews, the illegal immigrants, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being identified, stated that their difficult living conditions in the US were better than returning to Nigeria, citing reports of hardship and insecurity as their major concerns.

One of the affected Nigerians, who resides in Tampa, Florida, said he had stopped going to work to avoid being arrested by ICE operatives.

He said, “Ever since Trump came to power and acted on his threat of deportation, some of us have stopped going to work because ICE officers can raid workplaces to arrest illegal immigrants at any time.”

Aside from that, the distressed Nigerian said he had also stopped going to church and other public places, disclosing that the only safe place for him was his house.

“I work in a factory with many other Nigerians and Africans. Some other Africans who are also illegal immigrants have stopped going to work. The fear of Trump is the beginning of wisdom now.

“I don’t go to church anymore because it is possible to be arrested there. For now, the only safe place is your house—stay indoors.”

However, he expressed optimism that the deportation exercise would be relaxed after some months.

“We survived Obama’s deportation actions; we will survive this one as well. We hope that the various lawsuits against the immigration policies will slow things down and eventually restrain Trump from carrying them out.”

Asked why he had yet to regularise his documents, he said all efforts to validate his stay in the US had been futile.

According to him, all the systems he tried to obtain valid residency papers didn’t work for him, lamenting that he had lost close to $30,000 in the process.

He said, “I left Nigeria for the US in 2013, and I have been trying to get my papers since then. I was scammed through marriage and other means. In this regularisation process, I have lost close to $30,000. At a point, I wanted to file for asylum, but I was advised against it because I had spent over three years without valid papers. I decided to take under-the-table jobs instead.”

Another Nigerian illegal immigrant in Columbus, Ohio said he stopped going to work for the first week after Trump’s inauguration due to fear of being deported.

According to him, though Nigerians are not the primary targets of the mass deportation exercise, any foreign national staying in the US illegally can be arrested and deported by ICE operatives at any time.

He explained that the first set of illegal immigrants being deported were those with criminal records, noting that the process of deporting others without criminal offences had also begun.

“I cannot assume that Nigerians are not their target now and become exposed to them. No. The best self-defence is to stay out of trouble, and the best way to avoid being deported is to stay out of sight of ICE officers.

“The truth is, Trump’s war on illegal immigrants has restricted our movements. People are mindful of where they go now. The situation is like a rat monitoring the presence of a cat before stepping out. Personally, I stopped going to work the first week Trump was inaugurated, and I have not been going to work regularly since. May we not be unfortunate.

“Going back to Nigeria is not an option—not when millions of Nigerians are trying to japa because of hardship and insecurity. My difficult living conditions here are still better than what is considered ‘comfortable’ in Nigeria. However, we hope that this threat will subside in the next few months,” he said.

Speaking with The PUNCH, a Nigerian journalist in the US said many Africans in the country were anxious about Trump’s immigration policies.

“If they ask all of us to go back to our countries, we will have no choice but to leave. It is their country. If Nigeria were a better place, nobody would have left in the first place, and many of us would be ready to go back home. But unfortunately, our country has been plagued by bad leadership,” he stated.

According to him, the deportation exercise is more welcomed in Republican-controlled states than in Democrat states.

He confirmed that many Nigerians and other Africans had restricted their movements in various parts of the US to avoid being arrested and deported.

“It is true that Nigerians are avoiding public places, including their workplaces and churches, but it is not in every state,” he stated.

Also, a Nigerian Uber driver in New York, who identified himself only as Mathew, said some of his colleagues had been staying home and reducing their movements in the neighbourhoods.

“A lot of my Nigerian colleagues are not coming out for now. They can’t just risk it. They are all afraid of deportation,” he said.

Speaking with The PUNCH, a Nigerian lawyer in the US disclosed that many Nigerian churches had instructed their members who are illegal immigrants to join online services.

“Some people have gone underground. Nigerian churches are advising their congregations to worship online and not come to church if they are undocumented,” he said.

(PUNCH)

Headline

UK Introduces Powers To Seize Phones, SIM Cards From Illegal Migrants

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2026

Editor

The United Kingdom has rolled out expanded enforcement powers allowing authorities to confiscate mobile phones and SIM cards from migrants who enter the country illegally.

The new measures, which do not require an arrest, came into force on Monday at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent and represent a significant tightening of border controls.

According to the Home Office, the powers are intended to support intelligence-gathering operations aimed at disrupting criminal networks that organise and profit from dangerous Channel crossings.

Officials at the centre are equipped with technology that enables them to extract and analyse data from seized devices, a move the government says will help track and dismantle smuggling rings.

Under the revised rules, migrants are permitted to be asked to remove outer garments if there is suspicion that phones are being concealed.

In certain circumstances, officers may also check mouths for hidden SIM cards or small electronic items.

The National Crime Agency said information recovered from devices could accelerate investigations and improve the effectiveness of action against organised crime groups.

Border Security Minister Alex Norris said the policy was necessary to regain control of the UK’s borders and confront human trafficking operations.

“We are committed to restoring order and tackling the people-smuggling gangs behind this lethal trade,” Norris said.

Headline

PROPHECY: Primate Ayodele Reveals Trump’s Plot Against Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Primate Ayodele and Tinubu, Tinubu’s rice palliative, Primate Ayodele to Tinubu
Tinubu and Primate Ayodele
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that US President Donald Trump is after removing him from office.

This comes amid the removal of Vanezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by Donald Trump.

Primate Ayodele, in a statement signed Sunday by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, made it known that the US President has ‘caged’ Tinubu and his plan is to ultimately see that he is removed from office.

He stated that the support the US is giving Nigeria to fight insecurity isn’t for nothing other than ways to penetrate the government.

“Trump is adamant to remove President Tinubu. America will be part of those who will be against Tinubu. You may not see it as I am being shown, and that’s why I am saying Trump is after removing Tinubu, that’s it and nothing more.”

The cleric made it known that, despite US’ help, Nigeria will continue to fight insecurity, but the ulterior motive of the US President isn’t about ending insecurity in the country.

“Nigeria will still continue to fight insecurity, but either they fight it or not, Trump is focused on removing Tinubu from office, but he doesn’t know it yet. He isn’t after ending insecurity in the country, he knows what he wants and won’t stop at nothing towards achieving it.”

He urged the president to take a bold political step to overcome the plans of the US president; otherwise, he will end up succeeding with his plans.

“Tinubu must take a very bold step to overcome the plans of Trump, because he has caged him already. Tinubu must not relent his efforts and bring up strategies for him to succeed otherwise, he would be at the losing end while his defeat would be celebrated,” he added.

Headline

JAPA: Top Six Countries To Obtain Easiest Citizenship

Published

1 week ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

As a Nigerian considering relocation plans, interest in countries with clear and less complicated citizenship pathways is a smart way to not just guarantee greener pastures, but also provide you with the opportunity to feel more at home in a foreign land. While some of the programmes are ancestry-based, others allow Nigerians with such a link to try other means.

Contents
1. Dominica
2. Ireland
3. Turkey
4. Portugal
5. Vanuatu
6. Italy
Though rules vary widely across borders, some nations stand out for offering citizenship through investment or family ties with fewer hurdles and faster processing timelines.

Below are the top six countries with the easiest citizenship:

1. Dominica
Dominica operates a citizenship-by-investment programme that allows applicants to qualify through a contribution to the government’s Economic Diversification Fund or by investing in approved real estate. Processing typically takes a few months. Citizens enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 140 countries, including the Schengen Zone. There is no residency requirement, and dual citizenship is permitted.

2. Ireland
Ireland provides a clear citizenship pathway for individuals with Irish ancestry. Those with an Irish-born parent qualify automatically, while people with an Irish-born grandparent can apply through the Foreign Births Register. An Irish passport grants full European Union rights, including freedom of movement across EU countries. Dual citizenship is allowed, and there is no language requirement for applicants applying by descent.

3. Turkey
Turkey offers a fast-track citizenship option through investment. Foreign nationals who purchase qualifying real estate valued at a minimum of $400,000 can obtain citizenship within a few months. The programme does not require residency or renunciation of an existing nationality. Turkish passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to several countries, with ongoing efforts to expand travel agreements.

4. Portugal
Portugal’s Golden Visa programme provides a residency-to-citizenship route for foreign investors. After five years of legal residence and meeting programme conditions, applicants may apply for citizenship. Approved investment options include venture capital funds and other qualifying assets. Successful applicants gain an EU passport, access to the Schengen Area, and dual citizenship, subject to passing a basic Portuguese language test.

5. Vanuatu
Vanuatu runs one of the world’s fastest citizenship programmes. Through its Development Support Programme, eligible applicants can receive citizenship in as little as two months after making the required financial contribution. The country offers visa-free access to over 100 destinations and has no tax on global income or capital gains. Residency requirements are minimal.

6. Italy
Italy grants citizenship by descent to individuals with an Italian parent or grandparent, following a 2025 legal update that tightened eligibility rules. Applicants must provide official documents proving a direct family link to an Italian ancestor. Italian citizenship comes with full EU rights, wide visa-free travel, and the ability to pass citizenship to future generations. Dual nationality is allowed, and no language test is required for descent-based applications.
(Tribune)