Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its deportation list to include 18 more Nigerian nationals identified on its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register, bringing the total number of Nigerians now slated for removal to 97. This update was confirmed on the DHS website on Monday, February 10, 2026, as part of an ongoing enforcement drive targeting foreign nationals with serious criminal convictions.
According to the latest records published by DHS and shared by multiple Nigerian news outlets, the additional Nigerians added to the list were convicted of a range of offences, with wire fraud, mail fraud and identity theft cited among the most common convictions attributed to the newly listed individuals. The overall list of deportees reflects an enforcement strategy described by U.S. authorities as focused on the removal of criminal non-citizens considered a threat to public safety.
The move comes roughly a week after U.S. authorities first publicised that 79 Nigerians had been listed for deportation under the same “worst-of-the-worst” category, which encompasses serious convictions such as fraud, drug-related crimes, robbery and other felony offences. With the additional 18 names now added, the total number of Nigerians on the register reaches 97, underscoring an expansion of the removal process.
In a statement accompanying the updated register, DHS highlighted that the initiative forms part of a wider nationwide crackdown by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prioritise the removal of foreign nationals convicted of the most serious crimes. The agency noted the effort aligns with enforcement priorities emphasising public safety and national security.
Among the Nigerians newly listed for deportation are individuals such as Oluwaseyanu Akinola Afolabi, Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe, Benjamin Ifebajo, Obinwanne Okeke and several others, with the full updated list published alongside the DHS announcement on its official platform.
The enlarging list highlights an intensified focus by U.S. authorities on foreign nationals with criminal histories. Immigration analysts indicate that such deportations typically follow the issuance of final removal orders by immigration courts after convictions and adjudication of appeals. Once those orders are final, DHS is empowered to remove the individuals from U.S. territory.
The ongoing crackdown is part of broader immigration policy trends under current U.S. administration priorities, which have placed emphasis on removing convicted criminals from within the United States. This policy approach has also included wider visa restrictions and enforcement measures targeting non-citizens found to be in violation of U.S. immigration law, with proponents asserting these measures enhance domestic security.
Nigeria’s government and diaspora organisations have in the past engaged U.S. authorities over deportation and reintegration issues, urging adherence to due process and humane treatment for those affected. The growing number of Nigerians listed for deportation has, in previous periods, spurred public and diplomatic dialogue aimed at ensuring lawful procedures and proper documentation are followed before removals are executed.
As of the latest DHS update, specific deportation dates for the newly listed Nigerians have not been publicly announced. The logistics of removal — including travel documentation, detention arrangements and repatriation coordination — typically involve cooperation between U.S. immigration authorities and Nigerian consular officials.
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