The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration officers over various alleged criminal offences as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its immigration enforcement campaign.
According to information released by the department on Thursday, the individuals were arrested by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in different parts of the country.
The offences listed include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations and child cruelty.
DHS said the publication was part of efforts to highlight non-US citizens with criminal records apprehended by immigration authorities.
The agency stated that its officers were implementing Trump’s mass deportation policy, prioritising individuals described by the administration as serious criminal offenders.
Among the Nigerians named was Emmanuel Omowaiye, arrested in Richmond, Texas, over mail fraud. Laurene Onwuka was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, over fraud and impersonation, while Olusegun Shonekan was apprehended in Newark, New Jersey, over wire fraud.
Others include Olusegun Olaseni, arrested in Greencastle, Indiana, over the sale of amphetamine; Peter Ude, arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, over wire fraud; and Newton Jemide, arrested in Fort Dix, New Jersey, over wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud.
Shedrack Umukoro and Teslim Kiriji were arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi, over money laundering, while Olasoji Akinbode was apprehended in Kearny, New Jersey, over fraud and impersonation.
Oluwatosin Afolabi was arrested in Conroe, Texas, over fraud, while Alameen Adetunji Tokosi was arrested in Chicago, Illinois, over drug possession.
Joshua Ipoade, arrested in Atlanta, was listed over wire fraud. Michael Orji, arrested in Oxford, Wisconsin, was associated with allegations involving weapons violations, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering. Ahmadu Apooyin was arrested in Baltimore, Maryland, over a drug-related offence.
The list also included Onomen Uduebor, arrested in Seattle, Washington, over identity theft; Charles Ochi and Daniel Eta, arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania, over money laundering and wire fraud, respectively; and Ifeanyi Ibennah, arrested in Tampa, Florida, over cruelty towards a child.
Other Nigerians named were Kazeem Runsewe, arrested in Thomson, Illinois, over wire fraud; Fatiu Lawal, arrested in Lompoc, California, over wire fraud; Justin Akubueze, arrested in Orem, Utah, over money laundering; and Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, arrested in Orlando, Florida, over larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property.
The remaining individuals were Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi, arrested in Alden, New York, over assault, and Bright Eigbedion, arrested in Lompoc, California, over money laundering.
The announcement comes amid the Trump administration’s broader drive to tighten immigration enforcement and remove non-US citizens identified as priorities under its deportation programme.
However, DHS did not provide details of the final immigration status of each individual or the outcome of their respective deportation proceedings.
Their inclusion on the list does not, by itself, establish that they have been deported or that every offence cited resulted in a criminal conviction.