The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested by immigration authorities in connection with various criminal offences, as Washington presses ahead with its deportation operations.
Advertisements
According to DHS, the individuals were arrested in different parts of the United States by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The offences listed against them include wire and mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery and cruelty towards a child.
Advertisements
DHS: “The worst of the worst”
DHS said the publication was meant to highlight non-US citizens with criminal records who had been apprehended by immigration officers. “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the department said.
It added that DHS and ICE personnel were “fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst.”
The 24 Nigerians named
The list gives each person’s name, the offence linked to the arrest and the place of arrest:
- 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 offence, 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)
Deportation status unclear
The announcement forms part of a wider immigration enforcement campaign in which ICE carries out arrests across the country, and it comes as the US administration continues efforts to remove non-citizens it treats as enforcement priorities.
However, DHS did not give details of each person’s final immigration status or the stage of their deportation proceedings. Appearing on the list should therefore not be read as confirmation that a person has already been deported.
Advertisements
