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US Immigration Crackdown Puts Over 3,000 Nigerians at Risk of Deportation

Thousands of Nigerians living in the United States without proper documents are now facing deportation as President Donald Trump’s government enforces strict immigration rules. Reports say that at least 3,000 Nigerians have been listed for deportation by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since November 2024.

According to a document seen by Fox News, Nigeria has the second highest number of people set for deportation among African countries, after Somalia. Other affected countries include Ghana and Senegal. The US government is carrying out this crackdown to remove undocumented migrants from the country.

More Immigration Arrests Under Trump

Since Trump became president on January 20, immigration officers have been arresting undocumented migrants in major US cities. On January 27 alone, ICE arrested 956 people. This followed earlier arrests of 286 people on January 26, 593 on January 25, and 538 on January 24.

Trump had promised to remove illegal migrants from the US, and now his government is making that happen. As of November 2024, ICE had more than one million non-US citizens on its deportation list. Many of these people entered the US illegally, with thousands of African migrants reportedly coming through Nicaragua between 2023 and 2024.

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Deportation flights have already started, sending hundreds of undocumented migrants back to countries like Guatemala and Mexico. Many Nigerians without proper documents are now at risk of being forced to leave the US.

Documents You Need to Stay in the US Legally

With these strict immigration rules in place, migrants must have the right documents to stay legally in the US. These include:

  • A valid passport
  • The right visa based on your reason for staying (work, family, asylum)
  • Proof of relationship to a US citizen or legal sponsor (if needed)
  • Other important documents such as job offers, birth certificates, marriage certificates, medical records, and financial statements to prove you can support yourself

Important Documents for Different Immigration Categories

Green Card (Permanent Residency)

A Green Card allows you to live and work permanently in the US. To get one, you need:

  • A valid passport
  • An immigration visa
  • Form I-551 (Green Card)
  • Proof of relationship to a US citizen or permanent resident (if needed)
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Work-Based Immigration

If you are staying in the US for work, you must have:

  • Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Document)
  • A job offer letter from a US employer
  • Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker)
  • Labor Certification (if required)

Family-Based Immigration

If you are staying in the US through a family member, you need:

  • Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
  • Birth certificates of family members
  • Marriage certificate (if needed)

Temporary Stay (Non-Immigrant Visas)

If you are in the US for a short time, you must have:

  • A valid passport
  • The right non-immigrant visa (e.g., tourist, business, student, work)
  • Supporting documents related to your stay (e.g., an acceptance letter from a US school for a student visa)

What Can Nigerians Facing Deportation Do?

With Trump’s strict immigration policies in place, many Nigerians and other African migrants are now in a difficult situation. Experts advise undocumented migrants to:

  • Gather all necessary documents
  • Speak to an immigration lawyer
  • Check if they qualify for asylum, humanitarian relief, or visa adjustments

As deportations continue, affected migrants need to stay informed and take action to secure their legal status in the US.

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