US: Trump carries out threats, deports first batch of Nigerians

The United States has deported the first group of Nigerians under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.

Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama revealed on Wednesday that 14 deportees made up of Nigerians and a Gambian arrived in Ghana earlier in the week.

He explained that Ghana helped facilitate their onward journey, with the Nigerians sent back home by bus, while arrangements are being made for the Gambian’s return.

Mahama said Washington had approached Ghana to temporarily receive West African nationals marked for removal, an arrangement Ghana accepted since citizens of the region can enter the country without visas.

He also noted that relations between Ghana and the United States had become strained following tariff hikes on Ghanaian goods and new visa restrictions, though ties remain largely positive.

Nigeria has previously voiced opposition to U.S. attempts to pressure African nations into accepting third-country migrants. Officials in Abuja insist that Nigeria will only accept its own citizens and not deportees from other countries.

The Trump administration has been intensifying removals across Africa and beyond. In July, five people were deported to Eswatini and eight to South Sudan.

Last month, Rwanda accepted seven deportees after signing a deal with Washington to receive up to 250 migrants. Reports also indicate that other countries, including Jamaica, Vietnam, and Laos, have been affected, with rights groups condemning the practice as a violation of international protections for migrants and asylum seekers.

In Abuja, civil society organizations have expressed concern that Nigerians may face harsher treatment in the U.S. under Trump’s second-term policies.

The Nigerian government has not yet issued an official statement on the latest deportations, but diplomats privately admit it may be difficult to resist U.S. pressure as Washington continues to seek new deals with African states.

Analysts believe the deportation drive is part of Trump’s broader strategy to discourage illegal migration while signaling a tougher stance on foreign nationals living in the U.S. without valid documents.