NiDCOM confirms FG readiness to welcome deported Nigerians from the US, as the government sets up an inter-agency committee to address the situation
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that the Federal Government is ready to welcome Nigerians deported from the United States, following reports that many individuals may face deportation due to a crackdown on illegal immigration by the US government.
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In an interview with Vanguard on Tuesday evening, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media and Corporate Affairs for NiDCOM, explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for managing such cases.
He further revealed that the Federal Government has established an inter-agency committee to handle the situation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the National Security Adviser’s office.
Balogun added, “The Federal Government has set up an inter-agency committee, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, should there be mass deportation of Nigerians from the US.”
However, he clarified that NiDCOM was not yet aware of any Nigerians currently undergoing deportation proceedings in the US.
The issue has gained attention after reports indicated that approximately 3,690 Nigerians are at risk of deportation as part of a wider crackdown by former US President Donald Trump on illegal immigrants in the country.
According to a document from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which was reviewed by The PUNCH, the deportation orders are broken down by nationality.
Mexico and El Salvador top the list, with 252,044 and 203,822 deportations, respectively. The document also states that, as of November 24, 2024, there were over 1.4 million non-citizens on ICE’s non-detained docket with final removal orders.
The ICE has a mandate to protect national security by addressing illegal immigration and cross-border crime. The deportation process has already begun, with hundreds of migrants arrested and others flown out of the country via military aircraft as part of Trump’s mass deportation initiative.
