US Names 24 Nigerians Facing Deportation Over Alleged Crimes

The United States Department of Homeland Security has published the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement over various alleged offences.

The individuals were arrested in different parts of the country, with the allegations ranging from mail and wire fraud to money laundering, identity theft, assault and drug-related offences.

According to reports, the list includes Nigerians apprehended in states such as Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, Florida and California.

Among those named are Emmanuel Omowaiye, who was arrested in Richmond, Texas, over alleged mail fraud; Laurene Onwuka, arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, over fraud and impersonation; and Olusegun Shonekan, arrested in Newark, New Jersey, over alleged wire fraud.

Others include Peter Ude, Newton Jemide, Shedrack Umukoro, Olasoji Akinbode and Oluwatosin Afolabi. The allegations against them include wire fraud, conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering and fraud-related offences.

The list also includes individuals accused of identity theft, weapons violations, assault, forgery, drug-related offences and child cruelty.

DHS said the publication was part of the administration’s efforts to enforce US immigration laws and prioritise the removal of non-citizens identified by authorities as criminal offenders.

The department has not, however, provided a detailed update on the final immigration status of each person named or confirmed when their individual deportation proceedings would be concluded.

Being named in the announcement does not necessarily mean that an individual has already been deported. Each case remains subject to the applicable legal and immigration procedures.

The development comes amid a wider US crackdown on immigration, with federal authorities continuing enforcement operations against non-citizens facing criminal or immigration-related proceedings.