The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 24 Nigerians arrested over various alleged crimes as the government continues its immigration enforcement campaign.
According to DHS, the Nigerians were arrested by officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in different parts of the country.
The alleged offences include wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, drug-related crimes, identity theft, assault, forgery, weapons violations and child cruelty.
DHS said the announcement was part of its efforts to identify non-US citizens with criminal records who have been arrested by immigration officers.
The department said the arrests were in line with President Donald Trump’s promise to deport immigrants who fall under the government’s immigration enforcement priorities.
Full list of 24 Nigerians named by US authorities
The following are the names of the Nigerians, their alleged offences and the locations where they were arrested, according to DHS.
Emmanuel Omowaiye
Offence: Mail fraud
Arrest location: Richmond, Texas.
Laurene Onwuka
Offences: Fraud and impersonation
Arrest location: Chantilly, Virginia.
Olusegun Shonekan
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Newark, New Jersey.
Olusegun Olaseni
Offence: Sale of amphetamine
Arrest location: Greencastle, Indiana.
Peter Ude
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Atlanta, Georgia.
Newton Jemide
Offences: Wire fraud, conspiracy and mail fraud
Arrest location: Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Shedrack Umukoro
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Olasoji Akinbode
Offences: Fraud and impersonation
Arrest location: Kearny, New Jersey.
Oluwatosin Afolabi
Offence: Fraud
Arrest location: Conroe, Texas.
Alameen Adetunji Tokosi
Offence: Drug possession
Arrest location: Chicago, Illinois.
Joshua Ipoade
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Atlanta, Georgia.
Michael Orji
Offences: Weapons violation, fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, falsely claiming US citizenship and money laundering
Arrest location: Oxford, Wisconsin.
Ahmadu Apooyin
Offence: Drug-related crime
Arrest location: Baltimore, Maryland.
Teslim Kiriji
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Yazoo City, Mississippi.
Onomen Uduebor
Offence: Identity theft
Arrest location: Seattle, Washington.
Charles Ochi
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: White Deer, Pennsylvania.
Daniel Eta
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: White Deer, Pennsylvania.
Ifeanyi Ibennah
Offence: Child cruelty
Arrest location: Tampa, Florida.
Kazeem Runsewe
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Thomson, Illinois.
Fatiu Lawal
Offence: Wire fraud
Arrest location: Lompoc, California.
Justin Akubueze
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Orem, Utah.
Moyinoluwaseun Okeowo
Offences: Theft, forgery and hiding stolen property
Arrest location: Orlando, Florida.
Babajide Oluwaseun Faseyi
Offence: Assault
Arrest location: Alden, New York.
Bright Eigbedion
Offence: Money laundering
Arrest location: Lompoc, California.
Deportation process
DHS said the announcement was part of the US government’s wider immigration enforcement campaign, which involves arrests in different parts of the country.
However, the department did not provide details of the final immigration status of each Nigerian or the progress of their deportation cases.
Being named on the list does not automatically mean that an individual has already been deported from the United States.