‘Trump Order!’ 85 Nigerian Deportees En-route to Lagos, 116 Others Follow Suit

OwelekeTV (News) — The United States government is set to deport no fewer than 201 Nigerians, with 85 already cleared for immediate repatriation.

The deportation aligns with President Donald Trump’s immigration policy targeting undocumented immigrants and those convicted of crimes.

U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., confirmed the development during a meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

He stated that the deportees, including individuals serving jail terms, would be flown to Lagos. However, he did not disclose a specific date for their return.

“The first group will be convicted prisoners—those serving sentences in U.S. prisons,”

Mills said.

“Some are individuals who have violated immigration laws, appealed their deportation orders, but were denied and remain in the country illegally. They have committed immigration crimes.”

Call for Dignified Repatriation

Expressing concern over the deportation process, Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the U.S. to ensure the Nigerians are treated with dignity, particularly regarding the shackling of deportees during transportation.

“With the new administration in the U.S., we want a situation where there will be commitments,”

she said.

“If there will be repatriation, we want a dignified return.”

She further highlighted the financial and emotional distress many Nigerian families face due to the deportation crackdown, especially those who depend on remittances from relatives in the U.S.

“This has been of great concern not just to Nigerian nationals in the U.S. but to their families in Nigeria who rely on them for survival,”

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

“Will they be allowed time to handle their assets, or will they just be bundled into planes and repatriated? It will be traumatic, especially for those who have not committed violent crimes.”

Concerns Over U.S. Visa Policy and Aid Programs

During the discussion, the minister also raised concerns about potential changes in U.S. visa policies, particularly the rumored suspension of the Drop Box Visa system, which allows frequent travelers to renew visas without interviews.

She urged Washington to clarify its stance, assuring that Nigerians traveling for legitimate purposes would not face unnecessary hurdles.

“The U.S. government should issue a statement clarifying its actual position on the Drop Box system to ease the concerns of anxious Nigerians,”

she stated.

Additionally, Odumegwu-Ojukwu addressed uncertainties surrounding the future of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which funds critical humanitarian projects in Nigeria. She appealed for the preservation of initiatives benefiting vulnerable communities.

“We will just make that appeal on behalf of the NGOs in Nigeria,”

she said.

“Even less than a month into the 90-day review, there have been concerns. Humanitarian issues in Nigeria and Africa must not be abandoned.”

U.S. Ambassador Responds

Responding to the concerns, Mills reassured that the Drop Box Visa policy had not been suspended but was under review as part of the administration’s routine policy reassessment.

“Whenever there is a change in administration, policies are renewed,”

he said.

On USAID, Mills acknowledged its critical role, particularly in health and humanitarian aid, and assured that a decision on its future funding and structure would be announced in due course.

The ambassador also noted the evolving security landscape in Africa, expressing concerns about the recent withdrawal of three Sahel states from ECOWAS and ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.

Despite these challenges, he emphasized that the U.S.-Nigeria relationship remains strong, with a commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, security, and economic development.