FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY: NIGERIANS IN U.S. GO INTO HIDING, OTHERS RETURN HOME AMID TRUMP’S DEPORTATION CRACKDOWN
Some Nigerians living in the United States are reportedly returning home quietly, while others have gone into hiding, following intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to reports, many immigrants have stopped going to work as President Trump reiterates strong support for the activities of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump kick-started a hardline immigration policy immediately after his inauguration in January 2025, ordering the arrest and removal of undocumented immigrants.
The policy has attracted widespread criticism both within the United States and internationally, with human rights advocates condemning what they describe as harsh and traumatic treatment of immigrants by ICE operatives.
Nigerians living in the U.S. told reporters that fear has gripped many immigrant communities, forcing people to abandon their jobs, limit public movement, and, in some cases, secretly return to Nigeria.
In a viral Instagram video, a Nigerian woman broke down in tears, describing the panic, anxiety, and emotional distress immigrants are facing. She said she was deeply traumatised by the killing of a nurse, Pretti, who worked at the Minneapolis VA Medical Centre.
According to her, immigrants now live in constant fear, alleging that ICE agents sometimes target people indiscriminately.
“It is very traumatising the way these people are treating immigrants,” she said. “President Trump, if you want immigrants to leave America, tell us plainly. Just come out and say, ‘All immigrants, we want you out, whether you are criminal or not.’”
Speaking further, the woman, who identified herself as Senior Immigrant, revealed that many Nigerians have turned to online trading and home-based businesses to survive, due to fear of arrest by immigration agents.
She recounted how her shop assistant stopped coming to work in mid-December after ICE operatives were reported in her area in New Jersey.
“She has had anxiety and fear since then,” she said. “People are staying indoors because of the fear of ICE. Families now depend on donations and support from friends.”
She also narrated how some factory workers stopped working entirely, opting instead to sell goods from home, while others cook meals and take online orders, with customers picking up from their houses.
Corroborating her account, the President of the Nigerian community in the State of Maryland, Chris Ademiluyi, said many Nigerians had chosen to go into hiding rather than return home.
“They are in hiding instead. Nigeria is not any better,” Ademiluyi said, noting that economic and security concerns in Nigeria discourage many from returning.
He added that while some affected individuals may want to speak out, fear has silenced many of them.
Meanwhile, the founder of the Nigerian Centre in the U.S. said many Nigerians are currently weighing their options, with some opting for what she described as “self-deportation.”
She explained that individuals frequently visit the centre seeking legal advice, particularly on whether leaving the U.S. would permanently bar them from returning.
“We’ve seen people come in to ask about their options,” she said. “Some overstayed their visas for a short period and may qualify for waivers. In some cases, we advise them not to leave yet, depending on their situation.”
She, however, noted that there were no exact figures on how many Nigerians had already returned home.
As immigration enforcement continues to intensify, uncertainty, fear, and tough choices remain the reality for many Nigerian immigrants living in the United States.
