The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on the United States to adopt a humane process in the deportation of 85 Nigerians set to arrive in Nigeria today, Monday 17 February noting concerns over the emotional, financial, and social impact on affected individuals and their families.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this appeal during a meeting with the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a statement issued by her media aide, Magnus Eze, on Sunday, highlighted that approximately 201 Nigerians are currently in detention at US immigration centers, with 85 already approved for deportation. The FG, she noted, is advocating for a fair and structured process to ensure deportees are not abruptly uprooted from their lives.
According to reports, many Nigerians in the US play a crucial role in supporting families back home through remittances, which serve as a lifeline for education, healthcare, and basic survival. The minister stressed that deportations should be handled with dignity, particularly for those without a record of violent crime.
“We are asking, as a nation, whether these individuals will be granted sufficient time to manage their assets and personal affairs, or if they will be summarily forced onto planes and repatriated without due process,” she queried.
Aside deportation considerations, Odumegwu-Ojukwu also addressed growing anxieties over a potential suspension of the US Drop Box Visa System, which has allowed Nigerians to renew visas without undergoing in-person interviews.
Furthermore, the possible review of this policy has sparked fears among thousands of Nigerians who rely on the system for business, education, and family visits. The minister urged the US to provide clear communication on its visa policies to prevent unnecessary distress among Nigerian travelers.
The discussion also extended to the welfare of Nigerian students in the US, as roughly 14,000 students depend on financial support from their families in Nigeria. Any shift in US immigration policies, Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned, could have serious implications on their academic futures.
More so, the minister expressed apprehension regarding the ongoing review of USAID programmes, which are vital to humanitarian aid efforts in Nigeria as other NGOs operating in Nigeria express more concerns over a potential reductions in US assistance, as any cuts could disproportionately impact vulnerable communities across Africa.
“We are not certain whether this is an outright suspension, but many NGOs are seeking clarity. Even though we are less than a month into the 90-day review period, concerns are mounting. Before the review is completed, there are already pressing humanitarian crises in Nigeria and the wider African region,” she stated.
She appealed for the continuity of these aid programmes, emphasizing that even if changes were made at the agency level, the core humanitarian objectives must be preserved to prevent communities from being abandoned.
US Ambassador Mills assured that the Drop Box Visa System had not been suspended but was undergoing a routine policy review.
Mills also posits that the repatriation process would take place through Lagos and would primarily involve individuals convicted of crimes or those who had violated US immigration laws.
“The individuals set for deportation will arrive in Lagos. There will be no consideration for alternative entry points such as Port Harcourt or Abuja. The first group will include convicted criminals serving sentences in US prisons, as well as individuals who have exhausted their appeals after violating immigration laws and remained in the country illegally,” Mills explained.
In other areas, the discussion on immigration policies ties into broader changes introduced by US President Donald Trump on his first day in office as the 47th President. Trump swiftly enacted executive orders tightening immigration policies, including terminating birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border.
He further announced the deployment of additional military personnel to the southern border and reinforced his commitment to mass deportations of undocumented migrants.
As the situation unfolds, the Federal Government continues to advocate for a structured and humane approach to US immigration policies, emphasizing the need for fairness and respect for human rights.
