The United States government has expanded its travel restrictions on Nigerians, now suspending legal immigration applications, including green cards, naturalisation, and other permanent residency pathways.
This means that Nigerians are no longer able to submit new applications for these programs, nor will any pending applications be processed for the time being.
According to CBS News, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is enforcing the suspension under a recent proclamation by President Donald Trump.
The proclamation had earlier imposed partial travel restrictions on several developing countries, including Nigeria, affecting Nigerians applying for B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.
The new suspension goes further, blocking immigration and citizenship pathways entirely.
Aside from Nigeria, the policy also affects 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.
Nationals from these countries will no longer be eligible to apply for US citizenship or permanent residency. US authorities cite national security concerns as the reason for the decision.
They highlighted a “general lack of stability and government control” in the affected countries, which limits the ability to properly vet applicants or assess security risks.
USCIS added 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 now, the Nigerian government has not issued an official response to the expanded restrictions.
However, in previous engagements, Nigeria has expressed willingness to work with US authorities to address concerns around immigration processes and security cooperation.
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