Nigerians panick as Trump lists tough policies on immigration
By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
Thousands of Nigerians in the United States are worried they may be deported back to Nigeria.
Most of them who spoke to Irohinoodua are worried they might be deported back to a country they ran away from due to the harsh economic downturn.
This has been made worse by President-elect Donald Trump who has unveiled plans for a sweeping immigration crackdown, aiming to deport all individuals residing in the country without legal status.
Trump intends to carry out these measures over his four-year term.
There are some half a million Nigerians living in the United States.
A chunk of this population have no valid papers, eventhough they have been living in the country for years or even decades.
In a Sunday interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump described illegal immigration as a “national emergency” he intends to address immediately upon taking office on January 20. His administration plans to prioritize enforcement measures and legislative changes, some of which could face significant legal and constitutional challenges.
Deportation of Unauthorized Immigrants
According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 11 million people were in the United States without legal status as of January 2022, a number likely higher today. Trump emphasized his commitment to enforcing immigration laws, stating, “It’s a very tough thing to do, but you have rules, regulations, laws.”
Trump also expressed a potential openness to protecting “Dreamers,” individuals brought to the U.S. as children who have benefitted from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While his administration previously sought to end DACA, the Supreme Court blocked those efforts.
Ending Birthright Citizenship
Another cornerstone of Trump’s immigration plan is an executive order to end birthright citizenship, which guarantees U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Rooted in the 14th Amendment and affirmed by an 1898 Supreme Court ruling, the policy is considered a cornerstone of U.S. citizenship law.
Trump acknowledged the potential legal hurdles, hinting that achieving this goal might require a constitutional amendment. “We’ll maybe have to go back to the people,” he said.
Financial Implications
Implementing Trump’s proposed measures would come at a significant financial cost. The American Immigration Council estimates deporting all unauthorized immigrants could cost approximately $88 billion annually. Trump’s incoming team, led by border czar Tom Homan, is expected to push Congress for increased funding to bolster immigration enforcement.
While the proposed policies have sparked fierce debate, Trump remains resolute, framing the measures as essential to upholding the rule of law and addressing long-standing concerns about illegal immigration.
