The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to deport no fewer than 79 Nigerians convicted of various crimes as part of an intensified clampdown on criminal immigrants.
Findings by The PUNCH on the DHS website on Monday showed that the affected Nigerians were listed among what the agency described as the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens in the United States.
According to information accompanying the list, those slated for deportation were convicted of offences ranging from fraud and drug-related crimes to assault, robbery and manslaughter.
The DHS said the arrests and planned deportations were carried out under an ongoing nationwide enforcement operation targeting immigrants with criminal records.
A statement on the website read, “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Under Secretary Noem’s 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.”
Among the Nigerians named on the list are Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh and Usman Momoh.
Others include Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba, Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola and Toluwani Adebakin.
Also listed are Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla and Christian Ogunghide, among several others.
The list further contains names such as Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Aishatu Umaru, Henry Idiagbonya, Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Suraj Tairu and Peter Equere.
President Donald Trump’s administration has sustained its aggressive stance against criminal and undocumented immigrants, with Nigerians said to be among those affected by the renewed enforcement drive.
Saturday PUNCH had earlier reported that the intensified deportation campaign had triggered anxiety within immigrant communities, with some Nigerians allegedly going into hiding while others quietly returned home.
The renewed crackdown, which reportedly includes house-to-house enforcement operations, has sparked widespread debate and protests across parts of the United States, especially following several controversial encounters involving federal immigration officers.