The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerian nationals arrested by immigration officers over alleged criminal offences across different parts of the country.
The announcement comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its immigration enforcement and deportation campaign through the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the information published by DHS, the alleged offences linked to the individuals include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations, impersonation, larceny and cruelty towards a child.
Full List of the 24 Nigerians
The individuals named by the US authorities and their reported offences and arrest locations are:
- Emmanuel Omowaiye — Mail fraud; Richmond, Texas.
- Laurene Onwuka — Fraud and impersonation; Chantilly, Virginia.
- Olusegun Shonekan — Wire fraud; Newark, New Jersey.
- Olusegun Olaseni — Amphetamine sale; Greencastle, Indiana.
- Peter Ude — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
- Newton Jemide — Wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud; Fort Dix, New Jersey.
- Shedrack Umukoro — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
- Olasoji Akinbode — Fraud and impersonation; Kearny, New Jersey.
- Oluwatosin Afolabi — Fraud; Conroe, Texas.
- Alameen Adetunji Tokosi — Drug possession; Chicago, Illinois.
- Joshua Ipoade — Wire fraud; Atlanta, Georgia.
- Michael Orji — Weapons violations, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering; Oxford, Wisconsin.
- Ahmadu Apooyin — Drug-related offence; Baltimore, Maryland.
- Teslim Kiriji — Money laundering; Yazoo City, Mississippi.
- Onomen Uduebor — Identity theft; Seattle, Washington.
- Charles Ochi — Money laundering; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
- Daniel Eta — Wire fraud; White Deer, Pennsylvania.
- Ifeanyi Ibennah — Cruelty towards a child; Tampa, Florida.
- Kazeem Runsewe — Wire fraud; Thomson, Illinois.
- Fatiu Lawal — Wire fraud; Lompoc, California.
- Justin Akubueze — Money laundering; Orem, Utah.
- Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo — Larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property; Orlando, Florida.
- Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi — Assault; Alden, New York.
- Bright Eigbedion — Money laundering; Lompoc, California.
US Intensifies Immigration Enforcement
DHS said the publication was part of its broader efforts to identify and apprehend non-US citizens with criminal records as the administration pursues its mass deportation policy.
The arrests reportedly took place in several states across the United States, with fraud-related offences and money laundering featuring prominently on the list.
However, the department’s announcement did not provide the final immigration status of each individual or details of their respective deportation proceedings.
Being named on the list does not automatically mean that an individual has been deported or that every offence reported has resulted in a criminal conviction.
The development highlights the continuing immigration enforcement operations by US authorities under the Trump administration.