Nimi Wariboko, a Professor of Social Ethics at Boston University, has stated that the recent aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the United States has caused significant fear among Nigerians living there.
Speaking virtually from the US during an appearance on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Friday, Wariboko described the concerns of the Nigerian community in the US just weeks after Donald Trump resumed office. He pointed out that many Nigerians in the US are living without proper documentation, causing widespread anxiety.
“There are a good number of Nigerians here who don’t have papers, so they are understandably worried,” Wariboko said. “If you’re a pastor or a community leader, you’re concerned for them. Are they going to be deported? Some of them are in hiding, and there’s a very real fear of being raided. They’re fearful, angry, and uncertain about what the future holds.”
Trump, who began his second term on January 20, 2025, promised mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, particularly those he termed “criminal aliens” who entered the US illegally. Already, there have been large-scale raids in homes, schools, workplaces, and public places, resulting in the deportation of undocumented immigrants to countries like India and Guatemala.
The policy has received mixed reactions, with some supporting it and others criticizing it. Wariboko explained that undocumented Nigerian immigrants in the US are upset with their fellow Nigerians at home, feeling that there is a lack of compassion from their own country.
“They’re asking, if this mass deportation happens, will there be jobs for them when they return?” he said. “Even those with legal status or US citizenship could face uncertainty with the proposed changes to birthright citizenship laws.”
Wariboko further argued that the Nigerian government should be invested in defending its citizens in the US, as immigration policies that lead to deportations could negatively impact Nigeria’s economy. Nigerians abroad contribute significantly to the country’s economy through remittances, which amounted to $20 billion in 2023, according to the World Bank.
He added, “Even if some people don’t care about us, Nigerians in the US send billions of dollars home every year, supporting families and the economy. For Nigeria’s economic interests, the government should care because these remittances are vital to sustaining families. Many families in Nigeria rely heavily on support from relatives abroad.”
Wariboko emphasized that defending citizens abroad is not just a matter of compassion but also in Nigeria’s national interest.
He urged the government to protect Nigerians in the US, as policies that harm the diaspora would have significant economic consequences.
Trump’s latest actions bring to mind his earlier immigration policies, such as when he added Nigeria to a list of countries facing restrictions on entry in 2020 due to non-compliance with identity management and information-sharing requirements.
As of 2015, there were approximately 376,000 Nigerian immigrants in the United States, making Nigeria the largest source of African immigration to the country.
The US remains a top destination for Nigerian youths and the middle class seeking better opportunities, with Nigerians contributing over $20 billion annually to Nigeria’s economy through remittances.
