The United States Department of Homeland Security has finalised plans to deport 97 Nigerian nationals identified as high-risk offenders, marking a sharp escalation in the administration’s targeted removal operations.
The group, which includes individuals convicted of violent crimes and major financial fraud, is the latest to be processed under a broader federal mandate to prioritise the expulsion of foreign nationals with serious criminal records. This enforcement surge follows the early 2025 executive orders that declared a state of emergency regarding interior immigration enforcement.
According to official statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the individuals on this list have been classified as part of the "Worst of the Worst" criminal alien category. The charges against those slated for removal range from manslaughter, rape, and armed robbery to sophisticated wire fraud and drug trafficking operations.
"The hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling the promise to carry out mass deportations, starting with the most dangerous criminal elements," said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in a recent department briefing. Noem emphasised that these removals are essential to restoring "operational control" and ensuring the safety of American communities.
The 97 individuals represent a specific subset of a much larger pool of Nigerian nationals currently facing removal. Data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicates that as of late 2025, over 3,600 Nigerians were under final orders of removal. While the majority of those orders stem from visa overstays and status violations, this week's operation specifically targets those who have exhausted all legal appeals following criminal convictions.