A United States government official has disclosed that the administration of President Donald Trump has instructed the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend the processing of green card and citizenship applications submitted by Nigerians and citizens of several other countries recently added to an expanded US “travel ban.”
According to a report by CBS News on Thursday, the directive is based on national security concerns and forms part of an ongoing review of immigration screening and vetting procedures.
The development follows a proclamation signed by President Trump on Tuesday, imposing stricter entry measures on nationals of countries classified as high-risk. The proclamation cited “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that, according to the administration, pose threats to US national security and public safety.
Nigeria is among 15 additional countries now facing partial travel restrictions under the expanded policy.
Previously, on October 31, President Trump had designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” linking the decision to allegations of widespread persecution of Christians in the country.
Countries affected by the suspension
Full travel ban
Niger
South Sudan
Syria
Laos
Sierra Leone
Partial travel restrictions
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Benin
Côte d’Ivoire
Dominica
Gabon
Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Nigeria
Senegal
Tanzania
Tonga
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Previously affected countries
Afghanistan
Burundi
Chad
Cuba
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Myanmar
Somalia
Sudan
Togo
Turkmenistan
Yemen
Venezuela
The latest suspension broadens restrictions first announced in June, when several countries were placed under partial limits on immigration processing.
In the new proclamation, Laos and Sierra Leone—previously under partial restrictions—were elevated to a full travel ban, leading USCIS to extend the suspension to immigration petitions, including applications for green cards and US citizenship.
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