Mauritanian Immigrants in Lockland, Ohio Face Challenges Amid Deportations
About 3,500 Mauritanian immigrants have settled in Lockland, Ohio over the past two years, attracted by affordable housing and entry-level job opportunities.
More than 19,000 Mauritanian nationals have cases pending in US immigration courts, making Mauritania the second-highest African-origin caseload after Senegal.
Since Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017, at least 90 Mauritanian deportations to Mauritania have occurred, according to the Deportation Data Project.
Mauritanian arrivals in the Cincinnati/Lockland area commonly travel perilous routes through Turkey, Colombia, the Darién Gap, and then cross the US-Mexico border to seek asylum.
The concentration of the Mauritanian community in Lockland has placed strain on housing and public services, leading to overcrowding in some complexes and challenges related to residents’ limited ability to pay taxes due to lack of work permits.
This community concentration has drawn local criticism, amplified by right-wing media and scrutiny by the Trump administration.
A significant portion of the community belongs to the Fulani ethnic group. Human rights concerns persist in Mauritania, especially regarding slavery, which continues to affect Black Mauritanians; Mauritania was the last country to abolish slavery, but an estimated 149,000 people remain enslaved.
Amadou Ly of the Mauritanian Network for Human Rights in the US has noted that Black Mauritanians fear deportation due to systemic racism and ongoing abuses in Mauritania.
Individuals such as Khalidou Sy, who fled Mauritania after persecution, have sought asylum in the US; Sy arrived in October 2023 after a dangerous journey and fears deportation.
Community initiatives like Queen City Bike, which includes a bike repair workshop, have aided approximately 400 to 500 Mauritanian immigrants by improving their mobility and access to work.
