A report by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has revealed that 3,228 Ghanaians are among over 1.4 million immigrants listed for deportation.
The fiscal statistics from November 2024 indicate that a total of 1,445,549 individuals face deportation, with significant numbers from various African countries.
This includes 3,690 Nigerians, 393 Ugandans, 1,282 Kenyans, 427 Togolese, 60 Gabonese, 1,035 Gambians, and 1,897 Guineans, among others.
ICE stated that the affected individuals, referred to as “aliens,” are being deported for various reasons, including being undocumented, failing to claim credible fear of return, or receiving a negative credible fear determination affirmed by an immigration judge.
While ICE has not provided specific reasons for its inability to remove certain individuals with final deportation orders, the agency cited multiple barriers, including logistical challenges and legal complications.
Under Title 8 of the U.S. Code, ICE is authorized to deport noncitizens subject to final removal orders. However, enforcement of such orders is not always feasible due to the complexities of individual cases.
This development is part of Trump’s broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants, a policy that has drawn widespread criticism and raised concerns about its impact on African immigrant communities in the U.S.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is yet to issue a statement on the matter, but the news has sparked conversations about the implications for those affected and their families back home.