In a move that dashes the American dreams of thousands, the United States has abruptly suspended all green card and citizenship applications from Nigeria, placing Africa’s most populous nation on an expanded list of countries facing stringent immigration restrictions. This decisive action by the Trump administration, confirmed by U.S. officials to CBS News, cites “national security concerns” and targets countries alleged to have severe deficiencies in their security vetting, instantly throwing the lives of countless Nigerian applicants into limbo.
The suspension is a direct result of a presidential proclamation signed this week, which imposes new travel restrictions on 15 additional nations. While Nigeria faces “partial” restrictions rather than a full entry ban, the directive explicitly instructs U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to halt the processing of petitions for lawful permanent residency (green cards) and naturalization (citizenship) for nationals of the affected countries.
An administration official, speaking on background, stated the suspension will remain in force “pending the outcome of a comprehensive review of screening and vetting processes,” with no timeline provided for its completion. “The review is aimed at ensuring the integrity of the U.S. immigration system,” the official said.
This latest action significantly escalates tensions between the U.S. and Nigeria, following President Trump’s October 31st designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of violence against Christian communities. The administration has linked this designation to broader issues of governance, security cooperation, and information-sharing—the very deficiencies cited in the new travel proclamation.
The expanded list creates a tiered system of restrictions. A full travel ban now applies to Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone. Meanwhile, partial restrictions—which include the suspension of immigration benefit processing—apply to Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This new proclamation builds upon earlier rounds of restrictions. Notably, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial to full bans. The policy also maintains existing suspensions for a prior list of countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, and others.
The immediate fallout is a profound climate of uncertainty for Nigerian families and individuals whose futures are now on indefinite hold. With global immigration controls already tightening, this suspension marks a dramatic narrowing of legal pathways to the United States for citizens from a key African ally and trade partner. As the U.S. conducts its internal review, the hopes of thousands hang in the balance, awaiting a verdict that will redefine the meaning of the American dream for an entire generation of aspiring Nigerians.
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Exclusive: US Halts Green Cards, Citizenship for Nigerians in Sweeping New Travel Ban Expansion
