The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration authorities in connection with various criminal offences as the country intensifies its immigration enforcement operations.
The individuals were reportedly apprehended by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in different states across the country.
According to information released by DHS, the offences associated with the individuals include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, identity theft, drug-related crimes, assault, forgery, weapons violations and cruelty towards a child.
The department said the publication formed part of its efforts to identify foreign nationals with criminal records who had been arrested by immigration officers under President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policy.
Among those named are Emmanuel Omowaiye, arrested in Richmond, Texas, in connection with mail fraud; Laurene Onwuka, linked to fraud and impersonation in Chantilly, Virginia; Olusegun Shonekan, associated with wire fraud in Newark, New Jersey; and Olusegun Olaseni, listed in connection with the sale of amphetamine in Greencastle, Indiana.
Others include Peter Ude, Newton Jemide, Shedrack Umukoro, Olasoji Akinbode, Oluwatosin Afolabi, Alameen Adetunji Tokosi, Joshua Ipoade and Michael Orji.
Also named were Ahmadu Apooyin, Teslim Kiriji, Onomen Uduebor, Charles Ochi, Daniel Eta, Ifeanyi Ibennah, Kazeem Runsewe, Fatiu Lawal, Justin Akubueze, Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi and Bright Eigbedion.
The arrests were reported across several states, including Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, Indiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maryland, Washington, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Utah and New York.
DHS said the exercise reflected the administration’s determination to enforce immigration laws, particularly against foreign nationals identified as priorities for removal.
The latest announcement follows earlier disclosures involving Nigerian nationals identified by American immigration authorities as part of the government’s deportation campaign.
However, the publication of the names does not establish that all 24 individuals have been deported or that final removal orders have been issued against each of them.
The department did not provide a comprehensive account of their individual immigration proceedings, the status of any pending appeals or the dates on which deportations might take place.
Similarly, the reported offences should not automatically be treated as proof of conviction in every case without confirmation of the relevant criminal proceedings.
The development comes amid continued enforcement of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, with ICE conducting operations targeting foreign nationals considered to be in violation of US immigration laws.
The announcement has brought renewed attention to the legal position of Nigerian nationals facing immigration enforcement in the United States, particularly the distinction between criminal allegations, convictions, immigration detention and the completion of deportation proceedings.
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