Former Nigerian lawmaker and civil rights activist Shehu Sani has weighed in on growing fears among Nigerians living in the United States over possible deportations, urging those without legal status to return home rather than go into hiding.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Sani said reports of “thousands of Nigerians” hiding from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) highlight the severity of the situation. He warned that attempting to evade immigration authorities could lead to arrest and prolonged legal trouble.
“The thousands of Nigerians reportedly going into hiding in the US out of fear of deportation by ICE should respect themselves and return home to avoid arrest,” Sani wrote.
He argued that hiding offers little protection in a system where, according to him, even US citizens have at times faced scrutiny during immigration enforcement operations.
Sani’s comments come amid heightened anxiety among immigrant communities following tougher enforcement rhetoric and policies under President Donald Trump, who he noted still has “three more years” in office.
He suggested that some Nigerians choosing to self-deport have already grasped the political reality in Washington and are acting pragmatically to avoid harsher consequences.
“A situation where sometimes even the US citizens are not spared, hiding is not an option,” Sani added, framing voluntary return as a more dignified and safer alternative for undocumented migrants.
The remarks have sparked debate among Nigerians at home and abroad. While some social media users agreed with Sani’s position, saying voluntary return could prevent detention and family separation, others criticised the comments as insensitive to the economic and security challenges that pushed many Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad in the first place. See_More…