US Immigration Sweep Puts 110 Nigerians on Deportation List
Nigeria has emerged as the most affected country in the latest United States deportation operation, with at least 110 of its nationals listed among 355 West Africans earmarked for removal under the Trump administration’s newly expanded West Africa Operations Watch (WOW) initiative.
The list, released by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and accompanied by names and photographs of all 355 individuals, places Nigeria at the very top of the country breakdown, followed by Liberia with 94 nationals, Ghana with 30, and Senegal with 19.
Other nationalities captured on the manifest include 15 Cameroonians, 14 Gambians, 14 Ivorians, 12 Mauritanians, 11 Cape Verdeans, nine Burkinabes, eight Nigeriens, six Guineans, six Togolese, five Malians, and one each from Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
According to DHS, the WOW list reflects what it describes as the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens apprehended by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A statement on the agency’s portal, accessible at dhs.gov/wow, said: “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, including the illegal aliens you see here.”
While individual charges on the present manifest were not itemised, historical targets in this enforcement bracket include persons convicted of serious fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, smuggling, and violent offences. DHS officials added that flagged individuals were also identified for immigration violations such as visa overstays, unlawful entry, fraudulent documentation, and failure to meet residency requirements.
The 110 Nigerians represent the single largest national cohort in the operation, underscoring both the scale of the enforcement push and the sustained pressure on the Nigerian diaspora in the United States.
The figures align with a broader pattern of intensifying US immigration enforcement. As of November 2024, ICE records indicated that 1,445,549 non-citizens were on the agency’s non-detained docket with final orders of removal, with 3,690 Nigerians among them. Mexico (252,044) and El Salvador (203,822) topped that wider list.
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders aimed at tightening immigration policy, including measures targeting birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and accelerated removal procedures. The WOW initiative is the latest extension of that agenda, narrowing focus on West African nationals specifically.
Affected countries are reportedly preparing to receive returnees in the coming weeks. Analysts have warned that nations such as Nigeria and Liberia, which together account for more than half of those listed, may face fresh pressure around reintegration, employment, and social services for returnees.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue a formal response to the latest DHS publication at the time of filing this report.