The United States is set to deport 201 Nigerians under its immigration policy, with 85 already cleared for immediate repatriation. U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., confirmed the deportees—among them convicted criminals—would be returned to Lagos.
During a meeting with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mills explained that the first batch would include those who violated U.S. immigration laws.
Minister Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged the U.S. to uphold international deportation protocols and treat returnees with dignity. She requested ample time for them to settle their affairs and expressed concern over the emotional and financial strain on families in Nigeria.
The minister also pressed the U.S. to reconsider the potential suspension of the Drop Box Visa system, which affects thousands of Nigerian travelers, students, and their families.
Regarding U.S. foreign aid, Mills acknowledged ongoing reviews of the USAID program and its impact on health and humanitarian sectors, noting that policy updates would follow in due course.
Both officials agreed on the need for stronger bilateral relations, with Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighting Nigeria’s focus on citizen diplomacy and economic diversification under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 4-D foreign policy approach.
