February 4, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed 79 Nigerian nationals on a high-profile deportation list and said it will deport them as part of an intensified enforcement operation targeting non-citizens convicted of serious crimes, according to government records and immigration authorities.
The list of Nigerians — described by DHS as among the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) includes individuals convicted of offences such as fraud, drug peddling, assault, manslaughter and robbery.
A DHS statement highlighted that these arrests and removal actions fall under a broader crackdown on criminal immigrants in the United States, with authorities emphasizing enforcement of President Donald Trump’s directive to prioritise the removal of convicted and criminal non-citizens. The department attributed the actions to a pledge to protect U.S. communities by deporting individuals viewed as posing heightened public safety risks.
Among the names on the list are Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe and Solomon Wilfred, along with many others convicted of a range of serious offences.
The move mirrors a broader enforcement trend seen since the Trump administration renewed immigration crackdowns that expanded deportation categories and increased operations by ICE and DHS enforcement units. In recent months, thousands of non-citizens including Nigerians were flagged for removal under policies targeting those with criminal convictions or suspected of law violations.
While the U.S. immigration system generally prioritises the removal of individuals with felony convictions or aggravated crimes, critics have raised concerns that broad enforcement sweeps and expanded definitions of removable offences can affect people beyond the intended target group, particularly in the context of aggressive enforcement practices.
Human rights observers note that removal actions and the public naming of deportees can create anxiety among immigrant communities, prompting some to go into hiding or make urgent plans to return home quietly. Advocates say robust due-process protections, access to legal counsel, and transparent judicial review are essential components of a fair immigration system.
At the time of reporting, neither the Nigerian government nor the U.S. Mission to Nigeria had issued detailed statements on the specific removals or their diplomatic implications. However, similar past actions have sparked public debate in both countries about immigration policy, law enforcement and bilateral cooperation on crime and security.