The United States under the administration of President Donald Trump has officially announced its intention to deport Nigerian nationals who have either been convicted of crimes or violated U.

During a meeting with Nigeria' s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu- Ojukwu, Mills Jr. outlined the U. S. government' s deportation strategy.

He emphasised that the process would prioritise convicted criminals currently serving prison sentences in the U. S., followed by individuals who have violated immigration laws, exhausted all avenues of appeal, and remained in the country unlawfully.

Mills Jr. clarified the categories of deportees, stating, "The first group to be repatriated will consist of convicted prisoners— those who have committed crimes and are currently serving sentences in U. S. prisons. Others include individuals who have clearly violated U. S. immigration laws, appealed their cases but were denied, and remained in the country unlawfully."

The Ambassador also confirmed that all deportations would be routed exclusively through Lagos, ruling out other Nigerian cities such as Port Harcourt or Abuja as alternative destinations. This decision aims to streamline the repatriation process and ensure better coordination with Nigerian authorities.