Nigerians in the United States are grappling with heightened anxiety following former President Donald Trump’s renewed call for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. This fear has been exacerbated by social media warnings and videos allegedly showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids in public spaces frequented by Africans.
A viral message circulating on platforms like WhatsApp warns: “If you know anybody that does not have American papers/ID, tell them to avoid African Markets and International Markets. ICE raided Saraga Market on Morse Road today in Columbus, Ohio, USA.” The claim, however, remains unverified. Adding to the panic, a widely shared video purports to show an ICE operation but appears unrelated, depicting what seems to be a highway incident with no clear connection to immigration enforcement.
According to a report by The Punch, the panic among U.S.-based Nigerians stems from Trump’s recent remarks during a rally where he reiterated his commitment to mass deportations of undocumented immigrants if re-elected. The report highlights that Trump’s comments have rekindled traumatic memories of his administration’s hardline immigration policies, including mass arrests and deportations targeting immigrants from Africa and other regions.
Nigerians without proper documentation are now living in constant fear of detention and deportation. A Nigerian immigrant quoted in The Punch described the current atmosphere as “tense and uncertain,” with many individuals avoiding public spaces or African markets for fear of being targeted by ICE.
Community leaders and advocacy groups are working to address these fears. Legal experts are advising undocumented individuals to understand their rights and remain vigilant against misinformation. The Punch also reports that some immigrant support groups are calling for calm and urging the community to rely on verified sources of information instead of unverified social media posts.
Despite the lack of verified evidence of mass ICE raids targeting Nigerian communities, the spread of unconfirmed reports continues to stoke anxiety. As misinformation proliferates, the challenge for Nigerian immigrants remains to balance vigilance with resisting fearmongering in an already fraught environment.
