974 Nigerians in Canada Now in “Removal in Progress” List

Official data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) shows that 974 Nigerians are currently listed under Canada’s “removals in progress” category. This classification means their deportation process has entered an active stage, even though it has not been concluded.

The same CBSA tables also place Nigeria among the top countries currently in the “removals in progress” list, ranking 5th behind India, Mexico, the United States, and China.

What “Removal in Progress” Means

In CBSA terms, “removals in progress” refers to people who are already within the enforcement pipeline for removal. It can involve steps such as documentation, travel arrangements, and coordination with foreign authorities. It does not always mean deportation will happen immediately, but it confirms the case is already being processed.

Across all nationalities, CBSA data shows a total “removals in progress” inventory of 29,542 people, which indicates how large Canada’s active deportation pipeline is.

How Many Nigerians Were Removed in 2025

CBSA’s nationality breakdown for calendar year 2025 (up to October 31, 2025) shows that 366 Nigerians were removed from Canada during that period. On the same list, Nigeria ranks 9th among the top 10 nationalities deported in 2025 so far.

Why Deportations Are Increasing

Canada has been increasing immigration enforcement and accelerating removals. CBSA figures show 18,048 enforced removals in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, reflecting a stronger push compared with prior years.

A major driver behind recent removals has been enforcement against people whose refugee claims were rejected, as Canada tries to tighten immigration outcomes amid domestic pressure linked to housing capacity, labour market concerns, and border management.

What the Data Suggests About Case Types

While removals can happen for different reasons, CBSA reporting categories show a large share of active removal cases are linked to refugee-related non-compliance, meaning cases tied to rejected claims or failed refugee processes.

Separate reporting on Nigerian removals in 2025 also indicates that a majority were linked to failed refugee claims, while a smaller share involved criminality.

What Could Change Next

Legal analysts have also pointed to proposed reforms, including Bill C-12, which could change how certain refugee claims are handled. If such measures are passed and implemented strictly, lawyers warn they could lead to higher removals for affected categories in the future.