The US government has directed the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend green card and citizenship applications filed by Nigerians and nationals of other countries newly added to the expanded US “travel ban,” citing national security concerns and an ongoing review of immigration vetting processes, CBS News reported on Thursday.
According to CBS News report, the order follows a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, further restricting entry into the United States for nationals from countries deemed high-risk due to what it described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten US national security and public safety.
Among the 15 additional countries newly subjected to partial restrictions is Nigeria.
Trump had earlier, on October 31, declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” following allegations of a Christian genocide in the country.
The full list of countries revealed to be affected by the suspension of green card and citizenship applications is published below…
Full travel ban
Burkina Faso
Mali
Niger
South Sudan
Syria
Laos
Sierra Leone
Partial travel restrictions
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Benin
Côte d’Ivoire
Dominica
Gabon
Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Tanzania
Tonga
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Nigeria
Senegal
Previously affected countries
Afghanistan
Burundi
Chad
Cuba
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Myanmar
Somalia
Sudan
Togo
Turkmenistan
The Nigerian government has not reacted to the development.
Leave a Reply