The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians who were arrested by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in different parts of the country. The alleged offences include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations, and child cruelty.
According to DHS, the announcement was part of its efforts to identify non-US citizens with criminal records who have been arrested by immigration officers. The department said the arrests were in line with President Donald Trump’s promise to deport immigrants who fall under the government’s immigration enforcement priorities.
The list of Nigerians released by DHS includes Emmanuel Omowaiye, who was arrested in Richmond, Texas, for mail fraud; Laurene Onwuka, who was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, for fraud and impersonation; and Olusegun Shonekan, who was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, for wire fraud. Other Nigerians on the list include Olusegun Olaseni, Peter Ude, Newton Jemide, Shedrack Umukoro, and Olasoji Akinbode.
The alleged offences committed by the Nigerians on the list vary widely. For example, Michael Orji was arrested in Oxford, Wisconsin, for weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, falsely claiming US citizenship, and money laundering. Ifeanyi Ibennah was arrested in Tampa, Florida, for child cruelty, while Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi was arrested in Alden, New York, for assault.
DHS said that being named on the list does not automatically mean that an individual has already been deported from the United States. The department did not provide details of the final immigration status of each Nigerian or the progress of their deportation cases.
The US government’s wider immigration enforcement campaign involves arrests in different parts of the country. The campaign is aimed at identifying and deporting immigrants who have committed crimes or are considered a threat to national security.
The release of the names and photographs of the Nigerians is part of DHS’s efforts to increase transparency and accountability in its immigration enforcement activities. The department has not provided a timeline for the deportation process or any further information on the cases.
Key points
- The US Department of Homeland Security has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested over various alleged crimes.
- The alleged offences include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations, and child cruelty.
- Being named on the list does not automatically mean that an individual has already been deported from the United States.
