Staff Reports
The Biden administration has kicked off its grand plan to send illegal immigrants back to their home countries, starting with a planeload of 85 Nigerians making their way back to where they belong. Yes, you read that right. A group of individuals who decided to dip their toes into the land of the free without the proper paperwork is getting a one-way ticket home, proving at least in one instance, one of the campaign promises of enforcing immigration law isn’t just campaign fluff.
Deportation fatigue might be hitting hard for Nigeria. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs was reportedly very emotional about the whole situation, politely requesting that the U.S. conduct these deportations with “dignity.” Because, apparently, sending people back to their own country after they have overstayed their welcome should be accompanied by a red carpet and a heartfelt farewell speech. It’s a far cry from how many American citizens would feel seeing the back of these individuals, who’ve repeatedly violated immigration laws while presumably enjoying the good life here.
Trump Sends First Planeload of Migrants Back to Nigeria https://t.co/MfKuSdBUXg
— Steve Ferguson (@lsferguson) February 18, 2025
However, there’s something ironic about Nigeria’s position on deportations, especially considering they recently touted their own success story of sending 828 illegal migrants packing back to Nigeria. So it’s perfectly acceptable to deport individuals who might be from other countries, but when it comes to Nigerians, suddenly it’s a humanitarian crisis? Sounds a bit like selective empathy for those who chose not to play by the rules.
U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills Jr. made it clear that this initial group consists of convicted criminals, further emphasizing that these are not just innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of immigration oversight. They’ve had their chances, and now they face the consequences. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if everyone facing legal repercussions in the U.S. could plead their case with the same concern demonstrated by Nigerian officials?
As Nigeria’s officials wring their hands over how these “poor souls” might be treated during their return, one has to wonder how much sympathy they would extend to American citizens enduring the consequences of other nations’ broken immigration systems. It seems the U.S. has to be sensitive while Nigeria pursues its own agenda. While there’s merit in returning individuals with respect, the notion that criminals are losing out on some sort of human right — like being granted time to “handle their assets” — raises eyebrows. Breaking laws has consequences, and bundled on a plane is just the start of their reckoning. So, the question remains: whose dignity are we really concerned about here?
