Fear and uncertainty have spread among Nigerians living in the United States as President Donald Trump’s administration steps up enforcement actions through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Findings show that many immigrants have stopped going to work, gone into hiding, or are quietly returning to Nigeria following renewed support by Trump for aggressive immigration raids.
The crackdown, which reportedly includes house-to-house operations, has sparked panic, protests and public outrage, especially after a number of deadly encounters involving federal immigration officers.
Trump launched the tough immigration policy immediately after his inauguration in January 2025, directing ICE to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants without delay. The policy has since drawn criticism from human rights advocates and immigrant communities over alleged brutality.
Nigerians living in the said that fear of arrest had forced many of their compatriots to abandon jobs and daily routines, while some were making plans to leave the country quietly.
Available records indicate that at least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025, making it one of the deadliest years in over two decades. Reports by the UK Guardian further revealed that no fewer than eight people died in encounters involving ICE officers in 2026 alone.
Public anxiety worsened following the killing of two individuals in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On January 7, 37-year-old Renée Good was fatally shot during an ICE enforcement operation, with a medical examiner ruling her death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
Barely two weeks later, on January 24, another 37-year-old, Alex Pretti, was also shot dead by federal immigration agents during a similar operation in the same city.
Reports said ICE officers had detained about 70,000 people since the crackdown began, while an estimated 540,000 immigrants had been deported to their home countries.
Immigrants retreat indoors
A Nigerian woman, identified as Senior Immigrant, recently went viral on Instagram after posting an emotional video lamenting the fear and trauma immigrants were experiencing.
She said the killing of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, deeply affected her, adding that ICE officers appeared to act without regard for citizenship status.
She said many Nigerians had stopped working and turned to online trading to survive.
“People are staying indoors because of fear. My shop attendant stopped coming to work since December because ICE came to our area. Families are now selling things from home or cooking on order because they are afraid to go out,” she said.
She added that community members had started contributing money to support families who could no longer work openly.
Community leaders confirm hiding
Corroborating her account, President of the Nigerian Community in Maryland, Mrs Chris Ademiluyi, said many Nigerians preferred to go into hiding rather than return home.
According to her, harsh economic and security conditions in Nigeria had discouraged many from leaving the US despite the risks.
“They are hiding instead. Nigeria is not any better. Some people want to talk but are afraid,” Ademiluyi said, adding that Nigerian-Americans were less affected.
Also reacting, Lead Pastor of Lighthouse/Rejuvenation Church in Rosenberg, Texas, Shola Adeoye, warned Nigerians against making hasty decisions out of fear.
In a Facebook post, he said some Nigerians were leaving the US due to anxiety over the Trump administration’s policies.
“It’s not wise to bury yourself before death,” he wrote, sparking mixed reactions online.
While some users argued that self-deportation was better than the trauma of forced removal, others urged immigrants to remain calm and explore legal options.
Meanwhile, a Washington DC-based non-profit organisation, the Nigerian Center, said it had recorded a surge in Nigerians seeking guidance over the ICE crackdown.
Its Executive Director, Mr Gbenga Ogunjimi, said the problem was compounded by visa restrictions and Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern.
He explained that recent US policies had suspended several visa categories and also limited access to citizenship, work authorisation, asylum and green cards for Nigerians.
Ogunjimi said the organisation had been educating immigrants on the implications of the policies and advising them on lawful options.
“We’ve seen people considering self-deportation. Many come to ask about their options and whether they can return to the US if they leave,” he said.
He added that while some had been advised to stay due to minor visa overstays, the organisation had no exact figures on those who had already returned to Nigeria.
Overall, the intensified enforcement has left many Nigerians in the US torn between fear of deportation and uncertainty about returning home, as the immigration landscape continues to shift rapidly.
