By Omar Bah
The United States government has published an updated deportation list naming 427 people from West Africa, including 15 Gambians, with full names, photographs and criminal charges attached.
The list, released by US immigration authorities, targets individuals with criminal convictions and pending charges who are slated for removal.
Nigeria tops the list with 134 names. Liberia follows with 111, and Ghana, with 44. The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire each have 15 nationals listed. Other West African countries on the list include: Cape Verde 26, Senegal 22, Mauritania 12, Burkina Faso 10, Niger 10, Sierra Leone 9, Togo 7, Guinea 6, Mali 5, Guinea-Bissau 1, and Benin 1.
The offences range from fraud and money laundering to violent crimes and immigration violations.
The 15 Gambians on the list were named alongside their specific charges and locations of arrest. US authorities have not released further details on their removal timeline.
Despite the expanded enforcement, US law still protects at least nine categories of immigrants from deportation. These include naturalised citizens, green card holders, people with pending asylum claims, and survivors of certain crimes and abuse.
The publication of names and charges signals a tougher stance on criminal cases within immigrant communities as deportation proceedings move forward.