A total of 2,470 Ghanaian nationals are currently being held in U.S. detention facilities, awaiting deportation, according to the latest data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The figure marks one of the highest detention counts on record for Ghana and highlights the sweeping effect of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement policies.

Sharp rise in arrests and deportations


Between January and August 2025, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 478 Ghanaians — a sharp escalation linked to the Global Enforcement Initiative, launched in April 2025 to fast-track removals worldwide.

During the same period, 312 Ghanaians were deported from the U.S. to Accra, representing a 17% increase compared to the same time in 2024.

DHS officials said most of the deportees were removed due to criminal convictions, immigration violations, or visa overstays.

This surge marks one of the steepest year-on-year increases in nearly a decade. Historically, annual deportations of Ghanaians ranged between 200 and 250 between 2018 and 2023.

On August 28, 2025, a DHS-chartered flight carrying 42 Ghanaian nationals landed at Kotoka International Airport, the latest in a series of repatriation flights clearing a growing U.S. detention backlog.

Policy shifts driving removals


Two major policy decisions are fueling the increase. The first, the Global Enforcement Initiative, broadened ICE’s operational scope across multiple regions.

The second, a February 2025 executive order, prioritized removals of individuals with criminal backgrounds or national security flags.

While U.S. officials defend the measures as necessary for public safety, rights groups argue the policies are overly broad — ensnaring long-term residents, overstayers, and minor offenders. ICE maintains that all deportations follow due process and court rulings.

Diplomatic and humanitarian concerns


Under Section 241(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, deportees can be sent to their home country, the last country they departed from, or any willing host nation.

Migration experts warn that Ghana’s reintegration systems could face mounting strain if the trend continues.
“If current rates persist, Ghana could receive close to 500 deportees by the end of 2025 — the highest in over a decade,” .

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) says it is collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Interior Ministry to improve arrival protocols and ensure deportees are treated with dignity upon return.

A growing test of diplomacy


For many of the detained Ghanaians — some of whom have lived in the U.S. for years — deportation looms as a painful reality.

As both Ghana and the U.S. navigate this new phase of global migration control, the rising deportation figures are shaping up to be a critical diplomatic and humanitarian challenge, testing the balance between sovereign law enforcement and human rights obligations.