US ICE Arrests Nigerian Rape Convict in Baltimore Pending Deportation

Theophilis Anwana, a Nigerian national convicted of second-degree rape in Baltimore, Maryland, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 29, 2025. Anwana had been sentenced to 20 years in prison and had a final order of removal since 2021, but had remained in the U.S. until his recent rearrest. ICE highlighted that Anwana will remain in custody pending removal proceedings and emphasized that any criminal caught will be deported after serving their jail terms. This arrest has fueled calls among some U.S. citizens for intensified deportation efforts targeting criminal migrants, with social media users urging for stricter enforcement and mass deportations. The case is part of a broader enforcement effort by ICE, which has recently apprehended other Nigerian nationals convicted of serious crimes, including sex offenses and fraud across various U.S. states. Authorities reiterated their commitment to removing unlawfully present criminals to ensure public safety.