Immigration Shock: US Suspends Green Card and Citizenship Processing for Nigerians
The United States Government has suspended the processing of Green Card and citizenship applications submitted by Nigerian Nationals following Nigeria’s inclusion in an expanded list of Countries facing New Immigration restrictions under a directive issued by President Donald Trump.
A report by CBS News quoted a US Government official as confirming that the Trump administration has directed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to halt the consideration of immigration petitions from Nationals of Countries newly placed under the administration’s expanded travel restrictions.
The official said the decision was driven by National Security concerns and an ongoing review of screening and vetting procedures.
The suspension follows a Presidential proclamation signed earlier in the week, which further restricts entry into the United States for Nationals of Countries described by the White House as having “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing.”
According to the White House, such shortcomings pose risks to US National Security and public safety. Nigeria is among 15 additional Countries subjected to partial travel restrictions under the latest proclamation.
While the measures stop short of a full entry ban, immigration officials confirmed that the suspension applies to the processing of Green Card and citizenship applications filed by Nationals of affected Countries during the review period.
President Donald Trump had earlier, on October 31, designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” following allegations of widespread violence against Christian communities.
The administration has linked the designation to broader concerns about governance, internal security challenges, and the level of information-sharing with US authorities.
Under the new policy, Countries placed under a full travel ban include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone.
Nations facing partial restrictions include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The proclamation also builds on earlier restrictions announced in June, which had already limited immigration processing for Nationals of several Countries.
In the latest update, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial restrictions to a full ban, prompting USCIS to extend the suspension of immigration benefits, including lawful permanent residency and naturalisation applications.
Other countries previously affected by similar measures remain subject to restrictions. These include Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Yemen, and Venezuela.
US officials said the suspension will remain in force pending the outcome of a comprehensive review of screening and vetting processes, although no timeline has been provided for its completion.
“The review is aimed at ensuring the integrity of the US immigration system,” the official was quoted as saying.
The decision is expected to affect thousands of Nigerians currently seeking permanent residency or citizenship in the United States, adding to uncertainty around migration pathways at a time of already tightened global immigration controls.
