The United States Department of Homeland Security has publicised the names and images of 24 Nigerians who have been arrested by immigration officials for a range of criminal crimes as the Trump administration tightens its immigration enforcement operation.
Thursday’s Department of Homeland Security statement said the individuals were apprehended nationwide by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
The crimes against them include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, firearms violations and child maltreatment.
DHS said it was announcing the arrests to highlight those arrested by immigration enforcement officials who were non-U.S. citizens with criminal backgrounds.
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is spotlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the department said.
“Under the leadership of DHS, the hard-working men and women of DHS and ICE are delivering on President Trump’s promise and executing mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here,” it said.
Among those mentioned was Emmanuel Omowaiye, who was detained in Richmond, Texas, on charges of mail fraud. Laurene Onwuka was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, for fraud and impersonation and Olusegun Shonekan was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, for wire fraud.
Others include Olusegun Olaseni, arrested in Greencastle, Indiana, in relation to the sale of amphetamine; Peter Ude and Joshua Ipoade, both arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, in relation to wire fraud; and Newton Jemide, arrested in Fort Dix, New Jersey, in relation to wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud.
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Shedrack Umukoro and Teslim Kiriji were detained in Yazoo City, Mississippi for money laundering. Olasoji Akinbode was arrested in Kearny, New Jersey for fraud and impersonation. Oluwatosin Afolabi was arrested in Conroe, Texas, on fraud charges.
Alameen Adetunji Tokosi was arrested in Chicago, Illinois for narcotics possession charges while Michael Orji, detained in Oxford, Wisconsin, was charged with weapons offences, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, false citizenship and money laundering. Ahmadu Apooyin was arrested in Baltimore, Maryland on drug-related charges.
Also listed in the list were Onomen Uduebor, who was arrested in Seattle, Washington for identity theft; Charles Ochi and Daniel Eta, who were arrested in White Deer, Pennsylvania for money laundering and wire fraud, respectively; and Ifeanyi Ibennah, who was arrested in Tampa, Florida for child abuse.
Other Nigerians charged include Kazeem Runsewe, arrested in Thomson, Illinois, for wire fraud; Fatiu Lawal, arrested in Lompoc, California, for wire fraud; Justin Akubueze, arrested in Orem, Utah, for money laundering; and Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo, arrested in Orlando, Florida, for larceny, forgery and concealing stolen property.
The other two are Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi, arrested in Alden, New York, on assault charges, and Bright Eigbedion, arrested in Lompoc, California, on money-laundering charges.
The DHS release did not reveal the final immigration status of each individual or the facts of their particular deportation processes.
Listing them does not in itself prove that they have already been deported or that every offence recorded led to a criminal conviction.
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