258 Ghanaians deported from the US over 4 years, as ICE ramps up enforcement

• Posted on January 27, 2025January 27, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported a total of 258 Ghanaian nationals between 2021 and 2024, according to the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations statistics.

The deportations stemmed from various offences, including criminal convictions and other immigration violations. Those affected were removed from cities and states including Newark (25), New Orleans (23), Philadelphia (22), Atlanta (21), San Diego (11), and Washington, D.C. (10).

The annual breakdown of deportations shows 56 Ghanaians were removed in 2021, 46 in 2022, 62 in 2023, and 94 in 2024.

Comparatively, 417 Nigerian nationals were deported over the same four-year period, while 206,943 Mexicans were removed overall during that time.

ICE dashboard Ghana data

ICE is yet to publish data regarding the nationalities of persons detained/removed in 2025.

ICE’s focus on criminal backgrounds

ICE has stated that its enhanced operations are focused on enforcing immigration laws while preserving public safety and national security. The agency’s goal is to “keep potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities,” a statement from ICE emphasised.

This approach has been reinforced during President Donald Trump’s administration, with large-scale immigration enforcement operations targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds. Last Sunday alone, ICE reported 956 arrests, marking the largest single-day operation under the Trump administration.

ICE’s border czar, Tom Homan, noted that Sunday’s arrests included individuals convicted of serious offences such as murder, sex crimes, and aggravated sexual battery. He also acknowledged the possibility of “collateral arrests,” where individuals without criminal convictions are detained if they are present during enforcement operations.

Homan explained that decisions to carry out operations in sensitive locations, such as churches and schools, would be made on a “case-by-case basis.” He defended the approach, saying, “We’ve got to put America’s safety first.”

Escalation of enforcement

The Washington Post previously reported that Trump officials directed ICE to arrest between 1,200 and 1,500 people a day, significantly increasing the rate from previous operations. Addressing these reports, Homan told NBC News that the priority was to “get as many criminals as possible.”

“I don’t have a quota,” he said. “My instructions to them: Arrest as many as you can.”

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