(CANADA) — The Canada Border Services Agency has listed 974 Nigerians in its “removal in progress” inventory as of Saturday, a marker of intensified immigration enforcement that has also tightened across North America.
CBSA statistics updated as of late 2025 and reported on January 3, 2026, put Nigeria 5th globally among nationalities awaiting deportation from Canada, and the only African nation in the top 10.
Between January and October 2025, Canada deported 366 Nigerians, an 8% increase compared to 2019 levels, the same CBSA figures showed.
Overall removals and costs
Canada’s overall removals have accelerated significantly.
- The CBSA is now deporting nearly 400 foreign nationals weekly, the highest rate in over a decade.
- The agency removed 18,048 individuals in the 2024–2025 fiscal year.
- The cost of those removals was approximately $78 million.
A summary table of key figures
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Nigerians in “removal in progress” (as of Jan 3, 2026) | 974 |
| Nigerians deported (Jan–Oct 2025) | 366 |
| Weekly removals (approx.) | 400 |
| Total removals (2024–2025) | 18,048 |
| Cost (2024–2025) | $78 million |
Who is being removed
CBSA breakdowns indicate the vast majority of removals are tied to immigration outcomes rather than criminal enforcement.
- Approximately 83% of those being removed are failed refugee claimants whose asylum applications were denied.
- Criminality accounts for only about 4% of removals.
With approximately 83% of removals involving rejected asylum claims, the data suggests most cases are decided through the refugee determination system rather than criminal courts.
Canadian policy and funding changes
Canada’s tightened approach includes additional resources and proposed legislation.
- The federal government allocated an additional $30.5 million specifically for removals and $1.3 billion for border security.
- Bill C-12, described as the “Border Bill,” is proposed legislation that may further escalate deportations by permanently banning certain individuals from filing refugee claims.
- Those subject to deportation orders face permanent bans from re-entering Canada unless special authorization is granted.
Impact on migrant communities
The Canadian crackdown has caused widespread panic among migrant communities, particularly those who had moved from the U.S. to Canada seeking asylum (often associated with the “Roxham Road” demographic and issues tied to the Safe Third Country Agreement).
CBSA’s “removal in progress” categorization points to cases already in the agency’s pipeline, rather than a count of people newly targeted on that specific Saturday. Still, the updated figures underscore how prominently Nigerians now feature in Canada’s current enforcement inventory.
U.S. actions: visa restrictions and increased screening
U.S. authorities have taken parallel steps that affect the same demographic, adding pressure across North America.
- Presidential proclamation and visa limits
– A U.S. visa suspension took effect January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998 (“Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States”).
– The proclamation partially suspends visa issuance to Nigerian nationals.
– Affected categories include nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 (visitor/business), F, M, and J (student and exchange) visas, and all immigrant visas, with very limited exceptions.
“We are protecting our nation and its citizens by using rigorous, security-focused screening and vetting procedures to ensure that individuals approved for a visa do not endanger national security or public safety,” the U.S. Department of State said in a statement dated December 19, 2025.
- USCIS policy memorandum
– December 2, 2025: USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0192 requiring expanded review steps for people from “high-risk countries,” including Nigeria, who entered the United States on or after January 20, 2021.
– The memorandum calls for comprehensive re-review, potential interview, and re-interview of covered individuals.
“USCIS has determined that a comprehensive re-review, potential interview, and re-interview of all aliens from high-risk countries of concern. is necessary. to ensure that applicants are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” the agency said in the memorandum.
How the U.S. and Canadian measures interact
The U.S. measures add a second layer of pressure for Nigerian nationals and communities in North America, even when immediate enforcement action is Canadian.
- The visa restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 10998 limit pathways for travel and migration.
- The USCIS policy memorandum increases scrutiny for a defined set of entrants already inside the United States.
- Both countries frame parts of their crackdowns in terms of national security, while also citing housing shortages and labor market pressures as contributing reasons.
The parallel tightening of policies and enforcement in Canada and the United States has placed Nigerians at the center of a broader regional enforcement drive, as reflected in Canada’s removals workload and the U.S. entry restrictions that took effect at the start of 2026.
Sources and official information
Official information on the U.S. actions is available through the U.S. Department of State’s visa notices page and USCIS materials posted to the USCIS Newsroom and the USCIS policy memoranda page.
Canada’s removals figures are published through the Canada Border Services Agency’s removals statistics page, which includes the “removal in progress” inventory count that lists 974 Nigerians awaiting deportation.
Canada has intensified its deportation efforts, listing 974 Nigerians for removal as of January 2026. Statistics show a significant rise in weekly deportations, primarily targeting failed asylum seekers. Meanwhile, new U.S. policies, including visa restrictions and expanded security screenings for high-risk countries, have created a dual-nation crackdown. This coordinated tightening of borders reflects growing pressures regarding housing, labor markets, and national security across North America.
