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By Esther Bassey and Sandra Simon
As U.S. President Donald Trump renews his hard stance on immigration through fresh Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, Nigerians in the diaspora are voicing mixed reactions, ranging from fear and uncertainty to reflection on what the policy means for Africans in the diaspora.
Etivine Iwa, a Nigerian living in Toronto, Canada, described Trump’s ICE raids as “harsh and unnecessary,” saying they create tension not only in the United States but across immigrant communities worldwide.
According to her, even though she lives in Canada, “it’s scary to think how policies in one powerful country can influence how immigrants are treated everywhere else.”
She explained that the raids have made many Nigerians abroad more cautious and uncertain about their future, adding that “it’s like one decision in the U.S. can change how the rest of us are seen globally.”
Jefferson Louis, a Nigerian citizen currently based in New York, describes how many illegal immigrants live in fear.
“An average Nigerian in the U.S is already faced with challenges to be honest, trying to fit in, but with the current policy made by the president, some are in support, some are not,” he said.
He furthermore acknowledged the fact that with the current policy, many illegal immigrants tend to live in fear so as not to be deported.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, Eddy Ayah said the raids are “a wake-up call” for Nigerians to regularise their documents and stay informed about immigration laws.
“People are scared because they don’t know who ICE will target next. Even those with papers are cautious,” he added.
Eddy noted that some Nigerians he knows in the U.S. have stopped attending social gatherings out of fear of being profiled. He also believes the situation will “definitely make more people think twice before applying for American visas.”
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Awe James, a Nigerian also based in Giverny, Paris, shared his thoughts on the issue saying, “In as much as the president means well, with this current restriction, many Nigerians will live in fear in the U.S as this policy can take away all form of right to live freely as a citizen of the U.S and be deported with immediate effect.
“So, since there is an advantage to curb certain things over there, the disadvantages on our end are more.”
From London, United Kingdom, Chiamaka Bello said the atmosphere of fear among Nigerian immigrants is deeply personal.
“We may not live in the U.S., but we feel it here too,” she explained. “I have cousins in New Jersey who barely sleep peacefully now because ICE officers keep patrolling their area.”
Chiamaka added that Nigerian communities abroad are trying to support one another through online networks and prayer groups. “It’s not just about fear; it’s about standing together,” she said.
Her message to the Nigerian government is clear: “Please create better opportunities at home so our people won’t have to face this kind of fear abroad.”
Agu Treasure, a resident of the UK, London, said, “Even in Nigeria, every tribe marks their territory and places laws to guide their turf when foreigners visit.
“So it is much expected from a much more developed country. Some Nigerians here are caught doing one illegal thing or the other, and a country like America will definitely want to secure its residents and land.
“The only thing right now to say is to beg the government in Nigeria to develop that country. If the country is developed, we won’t be facing all we are facing. Even if we cry from now until tomorrow, it won’t change anything “
Across Canada, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, the voices of Nigerians abroad reveal one theme: concern for safety and the hope that their country of origin will protect and empower its citizens wherever they live.
