The United States Department of Homeland Security has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration officers over alleged criminal offences, as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its crackdown on immigrants.
The department said the Nigerians were apprehended by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in different parts of the country.
According to information published by the DHS, the allegations against the individuals range from wire and mail fraud to money laundering, drug offences, identity theft, forgery, assault, weapons violations and child cruelty.
Explaining the publication, the department said it was highlighting non-US citizens with criminal records who had been arrested by immigration authorities.
“The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” it stated.
The department added that the arrests were part of the administration’s mass deportation campaign, which it said would initially focus on immigrants considered high-priority targets under its enforcement policy.
The Nigerians named in the publication are Emmanuel Omowaiye, Laurene Onwuka, Olusegun Shonekan, Olusegun Olaseni, Peter Ude, Newton Jemide, Shedrack Umukoro, Olasoji Akinbode, Oluwatosin Afolabi, Alameen Adetunji Tokosi, Joshua Ipoade and Michael Orji.
Others are Ahmadu Apooyin, Teslim Kiriji, Onomen Uduebor, Charles Ochi, Daniel Eta, Ifeanyi Ibennah, Kazeem Runsewe, Fatiu Lawal, Justin Akubueze, Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi and Bright Eigbedion.
The offences and arrest locations listed by the DHS vary from one individual to another.
The department, however, did not provide details of the final immigration status of each person or confirm that all 24 had been deported.
Their inclusion on the list does not establish that deportation proceedings have been concluded or that they have been removed from the United States.
