The United States Government has named 24 Nigerians facing deportation over various offences, including wire and mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault and forgery, as President Donald Trump’s administration steps up its immigration enforcement campaign.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the names and photographs of the individuals, explaining that they were apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in different locations across the country.
Other alleged offences associated with the individuals include weapons-related crimes, false citizenship claims, larceny, concealment of stolen property and child cruelty.
Announcing the arrests, DHS said the publication was aimed at drawing attention to non-US citizens with criminal records who had been taken into custody by immigration enforcement authorities.
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the department said.
It added, “Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here.”
In July, US authorities released the names of 124 Nigerians they said were facing deportation over what they described as the “worst of all crimes”. A further 10 Nigerians were included in a deportation list published in August.
The latest publication contains the names of the Nigerians, the offences linked to their arrests and the locations where they were apprehended.
The individuals listed are:
1. Emmanuel Omowaiye — Mail fraud; Richmond, Texas.
2. Laurene Onwuka — Fraud and impersonation; Chantilly, Virginia.
3. Olusegun Shonekan — Wire fraud; Newark, New Jersey.
4. Olusegun Olaseni — Amphetamine sale; Greencastle, Indiana.
5. Peter Ude — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
6. Newton Jemide — Wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud; Fort Dix, New Jersey.
7. Shedrack Umukoro — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
8. Olasoji Akinbode — Fraud and impersonation; Kearny, New Jersey.
9. Oluwatosin Afolabi — Fraud; Conroe, Texas.
10. Alameen Adetunji Tokosi — Drug possession; Chicago, Illinois.
11. Joshua Ipoade — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
12. Michael Orji — Weapons-related offence, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering; Oxford, Wisconsin.
13. Ahmadu Apooyin — Drug-related offence; Baltimore, Maryland.
14. Teslim Kiriji — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
15. Onomen Uduebor — Identity theft; Seattle, Washington.
16. Charles Ochi — Money laundering; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
17. Daniel Eta — Wire fraud; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
18. Ifeanyi Ibennah — Cruelty towards a child; Tampa, Florida.
19. Kazeem Runsewe — Wire fraud; Thomson, Illinois.
20. Fatiu Lawal — Wire fraud; Lompoc, California.
21. Justin Akubueze — Money laundering; Orem, Utah.
22. Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo — Larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property; Orlando, Florida.
23. Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi — Assault; Alden, New York.
24. Bright Eigbedion — Money laundering; Lompoc, California.
DHS stated that the announcement forms part of the US government’s broader immigration enforcement drive, with ICE carrying out arrests in various parts of the country.
However, the department did not provide detailed information about the final immigration status or deportation proceedings of each person named.
Being included on the list does not, in itself, establish that an individual has already been deported.
