The United States government has expanded its travel restrictions affecting Nigerians, now suspending applications for legal immigration, including green cards, naturalization, and other pathways to permanent residency.
Under the new policy, Nigerians are no longer able to submit new applications for these programs, and any pending applications will not be processed until further notice.
According to CBS News, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is enforcing this suspension based on a recent presidential proclamation issued by former President Donald Trump. The proclamation had previously imposed partial travel restrictions on several developing countries, including Nigeria, affecting applications for B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. The updated suspension now extends to immigration and citizenship pathways in their entirety.
The policy also affects nationals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Citizens of these countries are temporarily ineligible to apply for US citizenship or permanent residency.
US authorities have cited national security concerns as the reason for the decision. They noted a “general lack of stability and government control” in the affected countries, which hinders the ability to properly vet applicants and assess security risks. USCIS emphasized that it is “conducting a comprehensive review of anyone from anywhere who poses a threat to the U.S., including those identified in the President’s latest proclamation.”
As of this report, the Nigerian government has not issued an official statement regarding the expanded restrictions. In prior interactions, Nigeria has expressed its willingness to collaborate with US authorities to address concerns surrounding immigration processes and security cooperation.
Source: Gistreel
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