IPNEWS: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially confirmed the impending deportation of 355 West African nationals, including 94 individuals from Liberia. This enforcement operation is being executed under an expanded regional immigration crackdown known as the West Africa Operations Watch (WOW) initiative.
The operation spans 16 West African nations. Out of the 355 individuals flagged, Nigeria accounts for the highest number with 110 nationals, followed directly by Liberia with 94 nationals. Other significantly affected nations include Ghana (30) and Senegal (19).
In an unusual move aimed at public transparency, the DHS has published the names and photographs of all 355 individuals on its official database.
According to the DHS, the targeted individuals were flagged across multiple U.S. states due to major immigration non-compliance. This includes visa overstays, unlawful entries, and failure to meet federal residency requirements.
The WOW registry specifically prioritizes individuals placed on immigration removal proceedings who have also been convicted of serious offenses. Past targets under this strict enforcement bracket typically include individuals with records of fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, or violent offenses.
This multi-state operation marks an intensification of immigration policy under the current U.S. administration. Earlier this year, smaller batches of Liberian deportees who completed local prison terms in the U.S. were repatriated to Roberts International Airport in Monrovia through coordinated security flights. The Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Liberia Immigration Service have previously stated that they are engaging in diplomatic dialogues with Washington regarding the welfare of citizens abroad, but emphasized that Liberia must comply with the federal policy decisions and final removal orders issued by the United States
