US Publishes Photos of 110 Nigerians Facing Deportation

US Publishes Photos of 110 Nigerians Facing Deportation

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has publicly released the names and photographs of 355 West African nationals facing deportation, including 110 Nigerians, as part of an intensified immigration enforcement campaign under the Trump administration. The list, published on the DHS website under a section labeled the “Worst of the Worst” criminal register, identifies individuals from 16 West African countries who have been convicted of serious crimes or violated U.S. immigration laws. The DHS stated that all listed individuals are subject to ongoing immigration enforcement proceedings, though specific crimes and deportation timelines have not been disclosed for each person.

Among West African nations, Nigeria leads the list with 110 nationals, followed by Liberia with 94, Ghana with 30, Senegal with 19, Ivory Coast with 14, Gambia with 14, Cameroon with 15, Mauritania with 12, Cape Verde with 11, Burkina Faso with 9, Niger with 8, Guinea with 6, Togo with 6, Mali with 5, Benin with 1, and Guinea-Bissau with 1. The number of Nigerians on the list has fluctuated in recent months, rising from 79 in February to 130 in March before being revised down to the current figure of 110.

According to DHS officials, individuals on the “Worst of the Worst” register have been flagged for visa overstays and unlawful entry into the U.S., criminal convictions including fraud, identity theft, smuggling, drug trafficking, and violent crimes, as well as failure to meet residency or asylum requirements. The DHS noted that the list includes individuals convicted of offenses ranging from wire fraud to aggravated assault. The department said in a statement: “Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst.”

READ ALSO:

The deportation process has involved logistical coordination with several African nations. While Nigeria has resisted U.S. requests to accept third-party nationals (non-Nigerians whom the U.S. wants to deport via Nigeria), other countries have stepped in. Ghana has served as a logistical hub for West African removals, using ECOWAS free movement protocols. Sierra Leone agreed to a third-country agreement and received nine deportees on May 20, 2026, including nationals from Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Senegal. The Sierra Leonean government, supported by a $1.5 million U.S. grant, will house deportees for up to 90 days before they return to their home countries. Reports indicated some deportees were “traumatised due to months in chains during detention in the US.”

Unlike Sierra Leone and Ghana, Nigeria’s government has publicly resisted American pressure to accept third-party nationals, citing domestic economic and security challenges. However, Nigerian nationals convicted of crimes in the U.S. remain subject to direct deportation to Nigeria. The diplomatic friction is unlikely to ease already strained U.S.-Nigeria relations.

The DHS launched the “Worst of the Worst” website on December 8, 2025, to publicize the identities of criminal illegal aliens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across all 50 states. As of June 2026, over 35,000 individuals have been named on the list, with more being added regularly. Recent additions from West Africa included individuals convicted of wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft.

The DHS has not provided a specific timeline for the deportations of the 355 West African nationals. However, officials have confirmed that removal proceedings will be carried out in accordance with U.S. immigration law, with ICE coordinating with home countries where diplomatic agreements exist.