Trump suspends green card, citizenship applications for Nigerians, others

By the Editor

The United States government has further expanded its travel restrictions. President Donald Trump’s government has suspended green card and citizenship applications from Nigerians and nationals of several other countries over security and immigration vetting concerns.

A US government official disclosed that the directive was issued to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) following a new proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, which widens the scope of the administration’s travel ban.

According to the details provided by the official, the suspension affects countries newly added to the US travel restrictions list, citing what the White House described as “serious shortcomings in screening, vetting, and information-sharing systems that could threaten US national security and public safety.”

Nigeria is not alone. There are 15 countries placed under partial travel restrictions, a move that has now led to a freeze on immigration benefits such as permanent residency and naturalisation.

President Trump had earlier, on October 31, designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” following allegations of religious violence in the country.

Countries under a full US travel ban

The following countries are now subject to a full travel ban, with their nationals barred from entering the United States:

Burkina Faso

Mali

Niger

South Sudan

Syria

Laos

Sierra Leone

Countries under partial travel restrictions (Nigeria’s grouping)

Nationals of the countries listed below face partial restrictions, including the suspension of green card and citizenship applications:

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Benin

Côte d’Ivoire

Dominica

Gabon

Gambia

Malawi

Mauritania

Nigeria

Senegal

Tanzania

Tonga

Zambia

Zimbabwe

These countries were already affected by earlier US travel or immigration restrictions:

Afghanistan

Burundi

Chad

Cuba

Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Haiti

Iran

Libya

Myanmar

Somalia

Sudan

Togo

Turkmenistan

Yemen

Venezuela

US officials said the latest action builds on earlier restrictions announced in June, which limited immigration processing for several countries. Under the new proclamation, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial restrictions to a full travel ban, leading USCIS to extend the suspension of immigration applications.