Nigerians self-deport amid Trump’s deadly ICE raids

Trump

Some Nigerians have gone into hiding and others are returning home secretly over the intensified deportation campaign led by President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that many immigrants had stopped going to work as Trump reiterated his support for ICE actions.

The sweeping actions, which include house-to-house enforcement raids, have stirred panic, debate and protest, particularly following a series of high-profile deadly incidents involving the federal immigration officers.

The US president kick-started an immigration policy to arrest and remove illegal immigrants immediately after he was inaugurated into office in January 2025,

However, his policy has been met with criticisms by many people in the US and other countries over the cruelty which ICE meted out to immigrants

People who spoke to Saturday PUNCH from the US, said some Nigerians had abandoned places of work and many were secretly returning to their home country.

ICE operations

At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025.

Last year is said to be the deadliest in over two decades for deaths in ICE detention.

The Guardian of UK reported that in 2026 alone, no fewer than eight people have died in interactions involving ICE.

The recent cases that have created anxieties were the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.

There was outrage when 37-year-old Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 7.

Reports reveal it happened during an enforcement operation, and the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds.