Politics

Trump: Uncertainty as 3690 US-based Nigerians face deportation

Published

1 month ago

February 1, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Donald Trump

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Nigerian illegal immigrants in the United States have resorted to hiding and restricted movement to avoid being arrested and deported by the President Donald Trump-led government.

This comes as a document from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations showed that about 3690 Nigerians in the US face deportation.

The document, titled ‘Non-citizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,’ shows that Mexico and El Salvador top the list of nations facing the highest number of deportations, with 252,044 and 203,822, respectively.

As revealed in the document, 1,445,549 non-citizens were on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders as of November 24, 2024.

The development comes as the Trump-led administration swung into action with its anti-illegal immigrant’ policies upon his inauguration on January 20, 2025.

In a follow-up to Trump’s tough stance against illegal immigrants, the US Justice Department also threatened to prosecute local and state authorities that failed to comply with immigration directives.

Consequently, 538 illegal immigrants were deported from the United States on January 23.

Still, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, disclosed on her official X handle that the largest deportation operation in history was underway.

Reacting, a Nigerian in Florida who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that many illegal immigrants have been leaving in fear since the emergence of Trump.

According to him, it is believed that African illegal immigrants may be next for Trump’s clampdown.

He noted that due to fear, many illegal immigrants of African descent, especially Nigerians, have stopped working in order to avoid being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE agents.

“We have stopped going out, no more work and church. The situation is terrible as we live in fear. In spite of that, we believe the situation is better than the hardship and insecurity in Nigeria,” he stated in an interview on Friday.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s federal government has, however, said a total of 201 Nigerians are currently in the custody of the US authorities and are ready for deportation.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the date and time of their deportation had not been communicated to the Federal Government.

The acting spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated that for Nigerians to be deported, the established diplomatic practice was to officially communicate such intentions to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC.

“The total number of 201 Nigerians is currently in their custody for deportation, but the date and time for deportation have not been communicated.

“And there is no way they will be deported to Nigeria without communication with the embassy in Washington DC,” the official said.

Politics

World Women’s Day: Nigerian governors vow to sustain gender parity gains

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3 hours ago

March 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders and women’s organisations to sustain the progress made in gender parity and women’s empowerment.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, stated this in a message to mark International Women’s Day, adding that the forum will allocate more resources to accelerate action in outstanding areas of concern.

“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum stands in firm solidarity with Nigerian women, praising their resilience and struggles for a fair society, as well as their immeasurable contributions to building a more equitable world,” he said.

Governor AbdulRazaq reiterated the forum’s commitment to advancing policies and initiatives that amplify women’s voices and promote the well-being of women and girls.

“My colleagues and I at the NGF congratulate Nigerian women on the occasion of International Women’s Day and reassure them of our sustained commitment to creating a more inclusive and safer environment for them to thrive,” he added.

Politics

Iran rejects Trump’s request for nuclear talks

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4 hours ago

March 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has ruled out any possibility of negotiating with the United States in his first public speech since President Donald Trump claimed to have sent him a letter regarding nuclear talks.

Khamenei also criticised France, Germany, and Britain for condemning Tehran’s non-compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, branding them shameless.

Speaking during a meeting with Iranian officials in Tehran on Saturday, he insisted that Iran would certainly not accept America’s demands.

“The insistence of some bullying governments on negotiations is not aimed at resolving issues but rather at asserting dominance and imposing their demands,” Khamenei said. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will certainly not accept their demands.”

He added, “Those three European countries—France, Germany, and Britain—are issuing statements, claiming that Iran has not fulfilled its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA! Someone should ask them: Have you fulfilled yours? You never did from the very beginning! Then you made another claim and broke that second promise as well. There should be a limit to shamelessness! How can someone fail to uphold their own commitments and then turn around and accuse the other side of non-compliance?”

Khamenei’s comments followed Trump’s revelation that he had sent a letter offering negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme while warning that military intervention remained an alternative.