The United States government has temporarily suspended legal immigration applications filed by Nigerians and nationals of several other countries newly added to its expanded “travel ban” proclamation, according to a report by CBS News.
The development affects applicants seeking permanent residency and citizenship and forms part of a broader clampdown on legal immigration expanded by the administration of former President Donald Trump this month.
Those impacted are largely immigrants from selected African and Asian countries who are already in the United States and are attempting to adjust their immigration status or become naturalised citizens.
Earlier in December, the administration directed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to freeze all immigration petitions — including applications for green cards and citizenship — submitted by nationals of the 19 countries earlier affected by the travel ban announced in June.
The decision followed a series of immigration restrictions unveiled after the Thanksgiving week shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., an incident allegedly carried out by an Afghan national.
As part of the measures, the administration also suspended all asylum decisions handled by USCIS and halted the processing of immigration and visa requests by Afghan nationals.
On Tuesday, Trump further expanded the travel ban to cover 20 additional countries, imposing a full ban on immigrants and travellers from five nations, while placing partial restrictions on citizens of 15 others.
A US official, who spoke to CBS News on Friday on condition of anonymity, disclosed that USCIS has extended the suspension of immigration cases to include nationals of the newly added countries.
The pause now affects citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, which face full travel bans, as well as nationals of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which are subject to partial restrictions.
Previously, the suspension applied to nationals of Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Laos, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Yemen and Venezuela.
Under the latest proclamation, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial restrictions to a full entry ban.
In a statement posted on social media late Thursday, the Director of USCIS, Joseph Edlow, appeared to confirm the expansion of the policy.
“USCIS is conducting a comprehensive review of anyone from anywhere who poses a threat to the US, including those identified in the President’s latest proclamation to restore law and order in our nation’s immigration system,” Edlow wrote.
With the latest additions, the travel ban now affects nationals of more than 60 per cent of African countries and about 20 per cent of countries worldwide.
Trump has defended the policy as a national security measure, arguing that it addresses concerns over vetting processes in the affected countries.
However, the move has sparked widespread criticism among Nigerians, with many describing it as unfair and excessive, while questioning the security and religious freedom justifications cited by US authorities.
Commentators have warned of diplomatic fallout and potential economic consequences, while disputing the security rationale behind the restrictions.
Former senator, Shehu Sani, described the decision as “a clear signal that migrants from developing countries are no longer welcome.”
