Mass deportation: Nigerians in US face emotional strain, uncertain future

Mass deportation

Mass deportation: Nigerians in US face emotional strain, uncertain future

By Damilola Salawu

The situation is becoming tense in many Nigerian homes in the United States as they come to terms with the reality of new immigration policy rolled out by President Donald Trump.
Although the presidential order is targeted at illegal immigrants and those whose visas have expired, others including American citizens connected by marriage, business or friendship will no be affected.
Going by the latest official data, the Trump administration’s new immigration policy will result in the deportation of 5,144 Nigerians, sparking widespread concern.
The deportation is part of a broader effort to remove undocumented individuals from the United States, targeting those who entered the country unlawfully, overstayed their visas, or committed criminal offences.

For many Nigerians, the news has been devastating. Some of those facing deportation have lived in the US for years, building families, careers, and a sense of stability.
Now, they are being forced to return to a country they may not have visited in decades, where economic challenges and societal stigma await them.

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“I don’t know how I’m going to start over,” said one deportee who had spent over 15 years in the US.
“I left Nigeria because I wanted a better life, and now I’m going back with nothing.”
Critics of the policy argue that the deportation is inhuman, often tearing families apart and sending individuals back to uncertain future.
Many deportees leave behind children and spouses who are US citizens, creating emotional and financial strain on families.
On social media, Nigerians have expressed frustration and sadness over the situation.
“This is not just about deportation,” one user commented. “It’s about the human cost—families separated, lives disrupted, and futures destroyed.”
Economists warn that the influx of deportees could strain Nigeria’s already fragile economy.
Many returning individuals will face difficulty finding employment or rebuilding their lives, especially without adequate government support.
Supporters of the deportation policy, however, argue that enforcing immigration laws is necessary for national security and fairness to those who entered the country legally.
“The law is the law,” one US immigration official stated.
As these deportations continue, questions remain about their long-term impact on families and communities, both in the US and Nigeria.
For the deportees, the journey ahead will be one of resilience and rebuilding in the face of immense challenges.
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says the Federal Government has put in place an inter-agency committee to tackle any matter that may arise from mass deportation of Nigerians from the US.
But critics wonder whether government plans a separate ‘externally displaced persons’ (EDP) camps in addition to the overcrowded IDP (internally displaced) camps in Nigeria.