The United States Department of Homeland Security has shared the names and pictures of 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration officers for various crimes. This comes as the Donald Trump administration steps up its immigration enforcement efforts.
On Thursday, the department released information about these arrests made by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in different states.
The crimes listed include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons offences, and child cruelty.
In its announcement, DHS said it was focusing on non-US citizens with criminal records who were caught by immigration enforcement officers.
"The US Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)," the department stated.
They added, "Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst, including the illegal aliens you see here."
The published list includes the names of the Nigerian nationals, the crimes they are associated with, and the locations where they were arrested.
One of those named is Emmanuel Omowaiye, who was arrested in Richmond, Texas, for mail fraud. Laurene Onwuka was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, for fraud and impersonation, while Olusegun Shonekan was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, for wire fraud.
Others on the list include Olusegun Olaseni, arrested in Greencastle, Indiana, for selling amphetamine; Peter Ude, arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, for wire fraud; and Newton Jemide, arrested in Fort Dix, New Jersey, for wire fraud, conspiracy, and mail fraud.
Shedrack Umukoro and Teslim Kiriji were both arrested in Yazoo City, Mississippi, for money laundering. Olasoji Akinbode was arrested in Kearny, New Jersey, for fraud and impersonation. Oluwatosin Afolabi was arrested in Conroe, Texas, for fraud, while Alameen Adetunji Tokosi was arrested in Chicago, Illinois, for drug possession.
Joshua Ipoade, arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, was named for wire fraud. Michael Orji, arrested in Oxford, Wisconsin, faced charges for weapons violations, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship, and money laundering. Ahmadu Apooyin was arrested in Baltimore, Maryland, for a drug-related crime.
The list also includes Onomen Uduebor, arrested in Seattle, Washington, for identity theft; Charles Ochi and Daniel Eta, arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania, for money laundering and wire fraud, respectively; and Ifeanyi Ibennah, arrested in Tampa, Florida, for child cruelty.
Other Nigerians listed were Kazeem Runsewe, arrested in Thomson, Illinois, for wire fraud; Fatiu Lawal, arrested in Lompoc, California, for wire fraud; Justin Akubueze, arrested in Orem, Utah, for money laundering; and Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, arrested in Orlando, Florida, for larceny, forgery, and hiding stolen property.
The last individuals mentioned are Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi, arrested in Alden, New York, for assault, and Bright Eigbedion, arrested in Lompoc, California, for money laundering.
DHS said this announcement is part of a larger immigration enforcement campaign, with ICE continuing to make arrests across the country.
This comes as the Trump administration continues its policy of removing non-US citizens identified as priorities under its immigration enforcement program.
But the information released by DHS does not clarify the final immigration status of each person or provide details about their deportation proceedings. Just being on the list does not mean they have been deported or that they were convicted for every crime listed.
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