The United States has unveiled a resolute plan to deport Nigerian nationals convicted of crimes or found to have flagrantly violated U.S. immigration laws, with the inaugural batch slated for direct repatriation to Lagos.
During a high-level meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills Jr. delineated the deportation strategy.
Mills Jr. declared that the process will prioritize convicted criminals currently serving prison sentences in the U.S., followed by individuals who, after exhausting all appeals, have unlawfully overstayed their welcome. “The first repatriated group will consist of convicted offenders behind bars and those who have egregiously breached immigration laws, had their appeals dismissed, and remain illegally in the country,” he asserted.
Emphasizing logistical precision, Mills Jr. noted that all deportations will be exclusively channeled through Lagos, with no alternative destinations such as Port Harcourt or Abuja considered. In response, Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the U.S. government to conduct the deportation in strict adherence to international conventions and to safeguard the dignity of those affected.
“With the new U.S. administration, we expect an unwavering commitment to humane repatriation,” she stressed, highlighting that approximately 201 Nigerians are currently held in U.S. immigration facilities, with 85 already cleared for deportation. “These individuals have families who depend on them, and their abrupt return will impose severe financial and emotional hardships. We need clarity on whether they will be granted adequate time to settle their affairs or simply be whisked off the planes without due consideration.”
