- New data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reveals that 2,470 Ghanaians are currently detained and awaiting deportation from the U.S.
- The figure represents one of the highest on record for Ghana, showing a significant rise under President Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement.
- In 2025 alone, 478 Ghanaians have been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), linked to the Global Enforcement Initiative launched in April.
- Between January and August 2025, 312 deportations to Ghana were recorded — a 17% increase over the same period in 2024.
- Most deportees face removal for criminal offenses, visa overstays, or immigration violations.
- A DHS-chartered flight on August 28, 2025, repatriated 42 Ghanaians to Accra.
- Rights groups argue the policies are too broad, while ICE maintains all removals follow due legal process.
- Analysts warn the trend could strain Ghana’s reintegration systems, with projections showing up to 500 deportations by the end of 2025.
- The Ghana Immigration Service and Foreign Affairs Ministry are collaborating to improve reception and reintegration measures.
The United States is preparing to deport a record number of Ghanaian nationals this year, as new data shows a sharp escalation in removals and arrests under tougher immigration policies.
According to figures released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 2,470 Ghanaians are currently in detention across various U.S. states, awaiting deportation. The report, cited by myjoyonline.com, describes the figure as one of the highest ever recorded for Ghana.
The surge has been linked to the Global Enforcement Initiative, a program introduced in April 2025 to intensify deportation operations worldwide. Within just eight months of the year, 478 Ghanaians had already been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Between January and August 2025, 312 Ghanaians were deported to Accra — a 17% jump compared to the same period last year. This represents one of the steepest year-on-year increases in nearly a decade, as previous annual totals typically ranged between 200 and 250.
A recent DHS-chartered flight that landed in Accra on August 28, 2025, brought home 42 deportees, part of ongoing efforts to clear an expanding backlog of removal cases in ICE custody. Most of those being deported are said to have been involved in criminal activities, visa overstays, or immigration violations.
The spike follows two major policy shifts: the expansion of ICE’s global operations and a February 2025 executive order directing authorities to prioritize deportations involving individuals with criminal backgrounds or deemed national security threats.
However, human rights campaigners warn that the aggressive enforcement has ensnared long-term residents and low-level offenders who have lived in the U.S. for years. ICE has maintained that every deportation follows proper legal procedures and court orders.
Migration experts fear the rising numbers could stretch Ghana’s already limited reintegration resources. Forecasts suggest that by the end of 2025, the total number of deported Ghanaians could exceed 500, setting a decade-high record.
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) says it is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior to ensure deportees are received and reintegrated with dignity.
