(DDM) – The first group of Nigerians has been deported from the United States under President Donald Trump’s uncompromising immigration crackdown.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, confirmed the arrival of the deportees in Accra on Wednesday.
According to him, 14 West Africans, including several Nigerians and one Gambian, landed in Ghana before being dispatched to their home countries.
The Nigerians were transported back by bus, while Ghanaian officials facilitated the onward transfer of the Gambian national.
President Mahama revealed that his government had reached an understanding with Washington to accept deported West Africans, citing the ECOWAS visa-free movement protocol.
He admitted that the agreement sparked tensions with the United States, pointing to disputes over trade tariffs and controversial travel restrictions.
Human rights groups immediately condemned the policy, warning that many of those expelled risk being sent to countries where they have little or no ties.
Critics argue that deportations under Trump’s administration often ignored humanitarian concerns, separating families and uprooting individuals who had lived in the U.S. for decades.
Immigration analysts say the move underscores Washington’s reliance on African states to shoulder the humanitarian and logistical burden of mass deportations.
Observers note that Ghana’s acceptance of deportees placed the West African nation at the center of a diplomatic storm over Trump’s migration policies.
Nigeria, already grappling with unemployment and insecurity, now faces renewed pressure to reintegrate its citizens forced out of the U.S.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued a detailed response but is expected to coordinate the returnees’ processing.
Civil society organizations in Lagos and Abuja have raised concerns about reintegration challenges, warning that deportees could fall victim to stigmatization and economic hardship.
Trump’s immigration stance drew sharp criticism globally, particularly for its targeting of migrants from Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The latest deportation has revived debates on whether the U.S. policy undermines regional stability in West Africa, where migration remains a lifeline for many families.
Political commentators argue that Washington’s pressure on smaller African states to cooperate exposes unequal power dynamics in U.S.-Africa relations.
Meanwhile, the Gambian government has yet to issue a statement, though rights groups fear the lone Gambian deportee could face further legal or social difficulties upon return.
The deportation has already ignited discussions across African social media platforms, where users accuse Western governments of hypocrisy on human rights.
As more deportation flights are expected in the coming months, activists warn of a humanitarian crisis if African states fail to provide proper support systems.
