BICE Cooperates with Nigerian Government to Remove 89 Nigerian Nationals to Lagos

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nancy Cohen - 202.514.2648

June 13, 2003

U.S. AND NIGERIAN GOVERNMENTS COOPERATE TO RETURN 89 NIGERIAN NATIONALS TO LAGOS, NIGERIA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in cooperation with the Nigerian Government, this week successfully repatriated 89 Nigerian nationals who were illegally present in the United States. Chartered aircraft flew the Nigerians, who had exhausted their legal avenues of appeal, from the United States to Lagos, Nigeria.  

Michael J. Garcia, Assistant Secretary (designee) for ICE, hailed the cooperative effort. “The Nigerian government provided tremendous support to the United States in bringing this mission to fruition” he said.  “We look forward to continuing to work with governments around the world as we use ICE’s unique enforcement tools, including immigration laws, to promote heightened security here in the homeland.”
 
This week’s flight was the latest in a series of recent removal missions the U.S. government has completed with the support of foreign governments.  Other recent repatriation operations have included flights to Pakistan, Cambodia, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Philippines.

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