ICE Arrests Nigerian National in Los Angeles for Theft, Fraud; Faces Deportation

ICE Arrests Nigerian National in Los Angeles for Theft, Fraud; Faces Deportation

LOS ANGELES – US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have arrested a 49-year-old Nigerian national, Etinosa Osahon, who now faces deportation following a criminal record that includes bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of stolen mail.

ICE Los Angeles announced the arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, confirming that Osahon was taken into custody on May 21, 2026. “ICE Los Angeles arrested Etinosa Osahon, of Nigeria, May 21,” the agency stated. “Osahon’s criminal record includes stealing and being in possession of stolen mail, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He is in ICE custody pending removal.” The arrest places Osahon among a growing list of Nigerian nationals detained by ICE as part of an intensified crackdown on illegal immigration and criminal aliens under the Trump administration.

Court records and ICE statements reveal that Osahon’s criminal activities involved stealing and possession of stolen mail, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. These offenses are considered serious financial crimes under U.S. federal law, often leading to detention and removal proceedings for non-citizens.

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Osahon’s arrest comes just weeks after the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a list of 110 convicted Nigerian criminals labeled the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens in America. The DHS list, published in the first quarter of 2026, includes individuals convicted of advance fee fraud (419 scams), drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons, assault, and identity theft. A DHS statement accompanying the list read: “Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations.”

Osahon remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Unless he successfully contests his deportation through legal channels, he will be deported back to Nigeria. Legal experts note that non-citizens convicted of aggravated felonies — including bank fraud and identity theft — rarely succeed in avoiding removal.

The arrest fits squarely within President Donald Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, which prioritizes the detention and deportation of non-citizens with criminal records. Since the start of 2026, ICE has ramped up operations in major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Houston, targeting individuals with final deportation orders or criminal convictions.

ICE Arrests Nigerian National in Los Angeles for Theft, Fraud; Faces Deportation