Nigerian immigrants now stay indoors in America to avoid deportation- US-based Professor
A Nigerian academic, Nimi Wariboko, a Professor of Social Ethics at Boston University, has voiced concerns over the escalating fear among Nigerians residing in the United States due to the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s program “Inside Sources” with Laolu Akande, Wariboko highlighted the palpable anxiety within the Nigerian community following President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration policies.
Wariboko noted that many undocumented Nigerians are resorting to self-isolation to avoid detection.
He emphasized that even minor disputes with neighbours could lead to reports to immigration authorities, exacerbating the community’s fears. “If you quarrel with your neighbours, they can call the immigration enforcement unit. There is that palpable fear,” he stated.
The professor also warned that the administration’s proposed reversal of birthright citizenship laws could pose challenges even for Nigerians with legal residency or citizenship in the U.S.
He urged the Nigerian government to proactively defend its citizens abroad, citing potential economic repercussions from mass deportations.
“Even for the sake of economic interest, Nigeria should care about that because there is money that comes from here to sustain different families,” Wariboko argued.
Highlighting the significant role of the Nigerian diaspora, Wariboko referenced a World Bank report indicating that remittances from Nigerians abroad totalled $20 billion in 2023.
These funds are crucial in supporting numerous families and bolstering Nigeria’s economy.
The current crackdown mirrors actions from Trump’s first term.
In 2020, Nigeria was added to a list of countries with restricted entry into the U.S. due to non-compliance with identity management and information-sharing criteria.
Recent reports indicate that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made over 11,000 arrests in the first 18 days of Trump’s second term, leading to the utilization of federal prisons to accommodate the surge in detainees.
The intensified enforcement has led to the transportation of certain detainees to facilities like Guantanamo Bay, a move that has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from various quarters.
As the U.S. government continues its stringent immigration enforcement, the Nigerian community remains on edge, grappling with uncertainty and fear about their future in the country.
