Texas-based Pastor Samuel Nnamdi was deported to Ghana in July 2026 under President Trump's expanded third-country deportation policy. Nnamdi, a Nigerian national, had lived in Texas for years, working for UPS and serving as a pastor. He had no criminal record and claimed to have court orders from US immigration judges that should have prevented his removal to Nigeria. However, these protections did not account for deportation to a third country.
Nnamdi's case has drawn widespread attention online after footage of an interview with MS NOW International correspondent Ines de La Cuetara began circulating on Instagram. In the interview, Nnamdi described the disorientation of finding himself thousands of miles from his family and life in Texas. He expressed difficulty reconciling his new reality, stating, "The fact that I am far removed from my family – I cannot reconcile the fact."
Ghana is among the countries that agreed to receive migrants deported under President Trump's expanded third-country deportation programme. The policy allows US immigration authorities to send individuals to countries other than their nations of origin, even when court orders exist to prevent deportation to those specific countries. This policy has been used to deport Nnamdi, despite his claims of having built a life in Texas.
Nnamdi's life in Texas before deportation was marked by stability and community involvement. He worked for UPS for five years, raised his family, and served as a pastor. His only expressed goal, he said, was to raise his children. Nnamdi's case highlights the complexities and challenges of US immigration policies, particularly the use of third-country deportations.
Social media users have responded to Nnamdi's case with a mix of sympathy, practical suggestions, and outrage. Some have expressed disbelief at the circumstances of his deportation, given his clean record and contributions to his community in Texas. Others have offered suggestions for Nnamdi's future in Ghana or Nigeria.
The MS NOW report on Nnamdi's case combines interview footage with archival visuals of deportees boarding a military aircraft. The report highlights the growing number of migrants arriving in Ghana under the controversial policy. Nnamdi's experience serves as a poignant example of the human impact of US immigration policies.
Nnamdi's deportation to Ghana has sparked a wider conversation about US immigration policies and their effects on individuals and families. As he navigates his new reality, Nnamdi's case will likely continue to draw attention and spark debate about the use of third-country deportations and their consequences for those affected.
Key points
- US deported Pastor Samuel Nnamdi to Ghana under Trump's third-country immigration policy despite no criminal record and American-born children.
- Nnamdi had lived in Texas for years, working for UPS and serving as a pastor, before being deported to Ghana.
- Ghana is among the countries that agreed to receive migrants deported under President Trump's expanded third-country deportation programme.
