Nigerians were among over 5,000 blacks arrested by American immigration authorities, as the administration intensifies a country-wide crackdown on those it had declared illegal immigrants.
Federal immigration authorities said more than 5,000 people were picked up in a three-week sweep in California, New York, Chicago, Virginia, Maryland and New Mexico, and would be put on the next plane back to their countries.
The Immigration and Naturalisation Services (INS)said the sweep targeted those who ignored deportation orders or sneaked into the U.S. illegally after being deported. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)spokeswoman, Virginia Kice, said that more than 400 of those arrested were from Los Angeles and several Southern California counties, which is home to a large number of Nigerians.
She said ICE teams from San Francisco and San Diego also participated in the sweep, which officials said would be continual. The immigration issue had been on the front burner in U.S. politics, with Republicans encouraging government crackdown on illegal immigration even if it means building walls in some parts of the country to keep people out.
But several pro-immigration advocacy groups have criticised the sweep, alleging that it targets mainly black immigrants.
“The areas and people targeted are mainly predominantly black neighbourhoods and businesses. People should be given more time to put their papers in order. Most of them pay taxes and it is unfair to break up families through government’s action,” said Macia Taylor, spokesperson for the Family First group based in Washington, D.C. But administration officials have denied targeting any group of people. The Homeland Security Department said the sweeps were an attempt to uphold government immigration laws, and vowed to continue the raids until all illegal immigrants are deported from the U.S.