Canada Steps Up Immigration Crackdown, Deports 366 Nigerians as Nearly 1,000 Face Removal
Story: written by Joseph January 3,2026
Canada deported at least 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025 amid a sharp escalation in immigration enforcement, according to official data from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The figures also show that another 974 Nigerians are currently classified under “removal in progress,” meaning their deportation cases are actively being processed.
As of November 25, 2025, Nigeria ranked ninth among the top 10 countries whose citizens were removed from Canada within the period and fifth among nationalities with the highest number of people awaiting deportation.
Historical CBSA data reveal fluctuating trends in Nigerian deportations. In 2019, 339 Nigerians were removed, followed by 302 in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 199 in 2022. Nigeria dropped out of the top 10 list in 2023 and 2024 but re-emerged in 2025, recording 366 deportations in just 10 months—an increase of about eight per cent compared to 2019.
The rise aligns with a broader immigration enforcement drive by Canadian authorities. The CBSA is now removing nearly 400 foreign nationals weekly, the highest pace in more than a decade.
During the 2024–2025 fiscal year, Canada deported 18,048 people at an estimated cost of $78 million. The agency operates under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which requires the removal of foreign nationals with enforceable removal orders.
Individuals may be declared inadmissible for reasons including criminality, security risks, misrepresentation, health concerns, financial grounds, or non-compliance with immigration rules. CBSA data indicate that about 83 per cent of deportees are failed refugee claimants, while criminal-related cases account for roughly four per cent.
Canadian law recognises three categories of removal orders: departure orders, exclusion orders, and deportation orders, each carrying varying restrictions on re-entry.
An analysis of 2025 data shows Nigeria as the only African country among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada. Other African countries were grouped under “remaining nationals,” accounting for a combined 6,233 removals.
Mexico topped the deportation list with 3,972 removals, followed by India (2,831), Haiti (2,012), Colombia (737), Romania (672), the United States (656), Venezuela (562), China (385), Nigeria (366), and Pakistan (359).
Nigeria also stood out as the only African country among the top 10 nationalities with cases “in progress,” led by India (6,515), Mexico (4,650), the United States (1,704), China (1,430), and Nigeria (974).
Canadian authorities say the intensified deportation campaign is intended to meet revised immigration targets and ease pressures linked to housing shortages, labour market strain, and border security. The government has allocated an additional $30.5 million over three years for removals and committed $1.3 billion to border security.
However, refugee advocates have expressed concern. Aisling Bondy, president of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, warned that deportations could rise further if Bill C-12, known as the “border bill,” is passed, as it could permanently block many individuals from making refugee claims.
Despite stricter policies, Canada remains a key destination for Nigerians. The 2021 census showed over 40,000 Nigerians migrated to Canada between 2016 and 2021, making them the largest African migrant group. Immigration data also indicate that 6,600 Nigerians became permanent residents in the first four months of 2024 alone.
Between 2005 and 2024, more than 71,000 Nigerians obtained Canadian citizenship, underscoring sustained migration ties even as enforcement tightens.
