The Truth About Donald Trump’s Alleged Deportation of 3.7 Million Nigerians

After the inauguration, there have been lots of startling claims alleging that President Donald Trump intends to deport 3.7 million Nigerians. This assertion coincided curiously with the speech of the new United States president, sparking immediate and widespread discussion.

According to the assertion, Nigeria leads a list of eight countries targeted for massive deportations, a list that also includes Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mozambique, and Bangladesh. The assertion quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and thousands of interactions, highlighting significant public interest and concern.

Analyzing the Claim, Donald Trump, known for his stringent stance on immigration, did make headlines during his presidency for various policies that aimed to tighten U.S. borders. 

Among these was the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border to stay in Mexico while their claims were processed. However, this policy specifically concerned migrants at the southern border and did not mention Nigerians or any other specific nationalities for blanket deportations.

Moreover, Trump’s administration did prioritize the deportation of illegal immigrants and made several changes to U.S. immigration enforcement. Yet, the logistics and legal frameworks involved make the deportation of 3.7 million people, practically overnight, implausible.

U.S. immigration law requires individual processing for deportations, often involving lengthy legal proceedings, including trials and appeals, which can take years.

All about the claim

The claim lacks verification from any credible source or official statement from Trump or his office. It appears solely based on a social media post, which does not provide evidence or reference any direct quotes or policy announcements from Trump that would substantiate such a massive action.

The Reality of Deportation Processes

Deportation from the U.S. is a complex legal process that involves detention, hearings, and multiple layers of bureaucracy. The idea that 3.7 million individuals could be deported in a single day is not aligned with how U.S. immigration laws and procedures work.

On January 20th, the former president, aged 78, enacted executive orders aimed at strengthening the enforcement capabilities of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. These orders not only expand the range of undocumented immigrants eligible for rapid deportation but also push to eliminate birthright citizenship.