Nigerians are self-deporting and going into hiding due to the intensified deportation campaign led by President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Many immigrants have stopped going to work, and some are secretly returning home, fearing arrest and deportation.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with reports of ICE agents conducting house-to-house raids, detaining and deporting individuals without regard for their citizenship status. At least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025, making it the deadliest year for ICE-related deaths in over two decades.
“We’ve seen cases where a lot of people are self-deporting right now,” said Gbenga Ogunjimi, Executive Director of the Nigerian Centre in Washington DC. Many Nigerians are weighing their options, with some choosing to return home rather than risk arrest and deportation.
The fear and uncertainty have taken a toll on Nigerian communities, with many people resorting to online trading and other informal means of survival. “People are staying indoors because of the fear of ICE,” said a Senior Immigrant.
The situation has sparked widespread concern and debate, with many calling for an end to the aggressive deportation policies. As one Facebook user put it, “Whoever that leaves involuntarily by ICE is not psychologically likely to want to come back in the future”.
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