Nigerian illegal immigrants in the United States are living in fear, avoiding public spaces to evade arrest and deportation amid President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. Many have restricted their movements, hoping that ongoing legal battles against Trump’s policies will offer some protection.
Some of the affected individuals, speaking anonymously to newsmen on Saturday, they revealed that since Trump’s inauguration as the 47th US President, they have stopped going to work, church, and other public places. For them, staying hidden is a necessary sacrifice to remain in the country, as returning to Nigeria is not an option due to economic hardship and insecurity.
A Nigerian living in Tampa, Florida, shared his ordeal, stating that he quit his job out of fear of workplace raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Trump has acted on his deportation threats, and some of us have stopped working because ICE officers can show up at any time,” he said.
Beyond avoiding work, some have also abandoned social and religious activities, isolating themselves indoors as a precaution. With heightened immigration enforcement, they see their homes as the only safe refuge. However, living in constant fear has taken a psychological and financial toll, as many struggle to survive without stable income sources.
As deportation fears escalate, Nigerian immigrants in the US remain hopeful that lawsuits challenging Trump’s immigration policies could offer relief.
