By Paul Joseph
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the names, photographs and alleged criminal offences of 124 Nigerian nationals marked for deportation under an intensified immigration enforcement campaign targeting non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.
The list, released on the DHS website, identifies the Nigerians as part of the agency’s “worst of the worst” category of criminal offenders arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Authorities, however, have not announced when the deportations will begin.
According to the DHS, the deportation exercise is part of a nationwide crackdown on criminal non-citizens in line with President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policy.
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the agency said.
While the full list contains 124 Nigerians, the DHS portal links many of those named to offences including kidnapping, sexual assault, wire fraud, identity theft, forgery, robbery, aggravated assault, domestic violence, money laundering, drug-related offences, trafficking in stolen property and other fraud-related crimes.
Among the cases highlighted by the DHS are:
Christopher Ojuma, arrested in Dallas, Texas, on forgery and fraud charges.
Adeolu Solabu, wanted on wire fraud allegations in Baltimore, Maryland.
Adeyinka Ademokunla, arrested in Chicago, Illinois, on kidnapping charges.
Kingsley Ariegwe, facing sexual assault charges in Deer Lodge, Montana.
Olusegun Martins, accused of larceny, identity theft, wire fraud and fraud in Houston, Texas.
Kenneth Unanka, arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on forgery, fraud and traffic-related offences.
Jeremiah Ehis, facing assault, domestic violence and drug-related charges in Dallas, Texas.
Oluwafemi Orimolade, accused of aggravated assault with a weapon and domestic violence in Columbia, South Carolina.
Ayibatonye Bienzigha, facing money laundering charges in Newark, New Jersey.
The latest action follows President Trump’s return to office on January 20, 2025, when he signed executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to strengthen border security and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants.
One of the executive orders, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed immigration authorities to prioritise the arrest and deportation of migrants considered threats to public safety and national security.
Defending the policy, the DHS said the administration was fulfilling President Trump’s campaign promise to focus immigration enforcement on convicted criminal offenders, adding that ICE officers had intensified operations across the United States.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also defended the crackdown, saying the administration remains committed to enforcing U.S. immigration laws and removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
Official U.S. immigration figures show Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador have recorded the highest number of deportees since the renewed enforcement campaign began. Deportation flights have also been expanded to countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.
Nigeria has come under increased immigration scrutiny in recent months. In June, Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening procedures.
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