US Deports 2,330 Nigerians in 11 Years, Places 3,690 Under Surveillance

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported a total of 2,330 Nigerian nationals between 2014 and 2025, according to a review of the agency’s official reports.

Data compiled from ICE’s annual statistical and enforcement reports shows that 2,310 Nigerians were removed between 2014 and 2024. An additional 20 deportations have been recorded so far in 2025, bringing the cumulative total to 2,330.

Furthermore, 3,690 Nigerian nationals are currently under ICE watch, indicating ongoing immigration enforcement proceedings or pending removal actions.

The year-by-year deportation figures are sourced from ICE’s 2014, 2015, and 2016 statistical reports; the 2018 Enforcement and Removal Operations report; and the country-specific appendix of the agency’s 2024 Annual Report, which includes data from 2019 onward.

Over the 11-year period, removals of Nigerian nationals declined by approximately 47.1%, dropping from 261 in 2014 to 138 in 2024.

The trend over the years has not been linear. ICE removed 261 Nigerians in 2014, followed by 224 in 2015, and 242 in 2016. The number spiked to 312 in 2017 and 369 in 2018, before decreasing to 286 in 2019 and 199 in 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions had a notable impact on ICE operations. Deportations of Nigerians dropped significantly to 78 in 2021 and further to 49 in 2022, reflecting logistical and legal challenges posed by the global health crisis.