A coalition of Nigerian-American organisations has officially launched the Community Immigration Defence Fund, a pioneering initiative designed to provide affirmative deportation defence and legal access to members of the Nigerian immigrant community across the United States (US).
The coalition, launched on May 24, is comprised of the Nigerian Center, the Nigerian American Lawyers Association (NALA), the Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee (NAPAC), and the NAPAC Foundation has come together to remove financial barriers for individuals who need to consult with an immigration attorney but are unable to afford legal representation.
This comes in the wake of the heightened anxiety due to President Donald Trump’s renewed call for mass deportations, which may affect some Nigerians living in the US.
The anxiety is further fueled by warnings and by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducting raids in public spaces frequented by Africans.
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Through the Immigration Defence Fund, individuals seeking legal consultation about their immigration status can now receive support by calling the Nigerian Center Immigration Hotline which is accessible nationwide.
The fund will prioritise early-stage and affirmative deportation defence cases, including humanitarian relief, adjustment of status, employment-based, and family-based immigration petitions. Services will be provided in collaboration with licensed immigration attorneys and DOJ-accredited representatives.
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To further engage and inform the community, the coalition will host a virtual information session on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 12:30 PM ET. The session is open to community members, legal professionals, and immigrant-serving organisations.
More information about the Immigration Defence Fund, or to register for the upcoming info session, can be done here
Other details about the Nigerian Centre can be found on the website
