Nigeria Rejects U.S. Migrant Resettlement Request

Nigeria has strongly rejected a U.S. proposal asking several West African countries to accept deported Venezuelan nationals, including some with criminal records, as part of a third-country resettlement strategy. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar called the request 'unfair' and 'unrealistic,' highlighting Nigeria's lack of ties to these deportees and significant domestic challenges. The Trump administration has formally approached at least five West African nations as part of a broader shift in U.S. immigration enforcement using diplomatic channels. Tuggar noted that recent U.S. visa restrictions and a 10% tariff on Nigerian goods may not be directly tied to Nigeria's BRICS involvement but warned that accepting the deportees could set a troubling precedent. Critics have described the U.S. policy as 'migrant dumping.' Nigeria is the first among the contacted West African countries to publicly reject the U.S. proposal.