From Texas to New York, 24 Nigerians have found themselves on a very public DHS list – and it tells a much bigger story about America’s immigration crackdown.

So, here's what happened.

The US Department of Homeland Security has done something it’s been doing a lot more of lately – it’s named and shamed. In a statement released this week, DHS published the names of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers across the country.

This is according to a report by cbinews.tv, which cited the DHS publication.

Here is the full list as published by DHS and reported by cbinews.tv:

1. Emmanuel Omowaiye – Alleged mail fraud – Richmond, Texas

2. Laurene Onwuka – Alleged fraud and impersonation – Chantilly, Virginia

3. Olusegun Shonekan – Alleged wire fraud – Newark, New Jersey

4. Olusegun Olaseni – Alleged amphetamine sale – Greencastle, Indiana

5. Peter Ude – Alleged wire fraud – Atlanta, Georgia

6. Newton Jemide – Alleged wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud – Fort Dix, New Jersey

7. Shedrack Umukoro – Alleged money laundering – Yazoo City, Mississippi

8. Olasoji Akinbode – Alleged fraud and impersonation – Kearny, New Jersey

9. Oluwatosin Afolabi – Alleged fraud – Conroe, Texas

10. Alameen Adetunji Tokosi – Alleged drug possession – Chicago, Illinois

11. Joshua Ipoade – Alleged wire fraud – Atlanta, Georgia

12. Michael Orji – Alleged weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering – Oxford, Wisconsin

13. Ahmadu Apooyin – Alleged drug-related offence – Baltimore, Maryland

14. Teslim Kiriji – Alleged money laundering – Yazoo City, Mississippi

15. Onomen Uduebor – Alleged identity theft – Seattle, Washington

16. Charles Ochi – Alleged money laundering – White Deer, Pennsylvania

17. Daniel Eta – Alleged wire fraud – White Deer, Pennsylvania

18. Ifeanyi Ibennah – Alleged cruelty towards a child – Tampa, Florida

19. Kazeem Runsewe – Alleged wire fraud – Thomson, Illinois

20. Fatiu Lawal – Alleged wire fraud – Lompoc, California

21. Justin Akubueze – Alleged money laundering – Orem, Utah

22. Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo – Alleged larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property – Orlando, Florida

23. Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi – Alleged assault – Alden, New York

24. Bright Eigbedion – Alleged money laundering – Lompoc, California

Important legal note: All persons named are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you are Nigerian in the diaspora, this story will feel uncomfortably familiar.

There are an estimated 400,000+ Nigerians living in the US – one of the most educated and entrepreneurial African communities in America. But historically, Nigerians have also been disproportionately caught up in US fraud-related prosecutions, particularly wire fraud and business email compromise cases. That history is why a list like this cuts so deep.

What is different now is the strategy. In previous administrations, DHS would quietly announce deportations. Since January 2025, the Trump administration has made public naming, mugshots and state-by-state breakdowns a core part of its communications. Data from ICE shows arrests of non-citizens with pending criminal charges have surged by over 70% compared to the same period last year, with Operation compliance checks now happening in workplaces, homes and even courthouses.

Behind each name on that DHS list is a family in Lagos checking WhatsApp, a spouse in Houston who now has to find an immigration lawyer, and a community in Peckham or Houston or New Jersey that will be having the same conversation: “Shebi we warned him?”

For many Nigerians on temporary visas, student visas, or even green cards, an arrest – not a conviction – can now trigger ICE detention and removal proceedings. That creates immense anxiety, even for those with no criminal record. Community leaders in the US are already reporting a spike in calls to legal aid clinics.

Why does this actually matter?

This matters for three reasons:

1. It signals a shift in policy: The US is moving from “conviction-based” deportation to “arrest or charge-based” enforcement. That lowers the bar significantly.

2. It affects Nigeria-US relations: Mass public listings of Nigerians feed into stereotypes and could complicate consular support and visa negotiations.

3. It is a warning for the diaspora: Your immigration status in the US is no longer secure just because you have lived there for years. A run-in with the law can have immigration consequences almost immediately.

What happens next to those arrested?

So, what actually happens after ICE arrests someone on this list?

First, they are taken into ICE custody and processed. Then, they are placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge – separate from their criminal case. Even if their criminal case is still pending, ICE can argue they are a flight risk or a danger to the community. They can be held in detention centres like those in Yazoo City or Lompoc listed above. From there, they have a right to seek legal counsel, apply for relief like asylum or cancellation of removal if eligible, or accept voluntary departure. The Nigerian consulate in New York, Atlanta and Washington, DC, is usually notified.

Next steps to watch:

* Will DHS release conviction updates or deportation outcomes for these 24?

* Will the Nigerian government, through NiDCOM, issue a statement or offer consular assistance?

* And crucially, will we see more country-specific lists? If DHS continues this pattern, other nationalities could be next.

For now, if you have family in the US, the best advice remains the same: know your status, know your rights, and get a qualified immigration solicitor if you are ever contacted by ICE.

Source: cbinews.tv.

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