The US government has halted the processing of green card and citizenship applications for Nigerians, triggering a fresh immigration setback for thousands of applicants
The suspension follows an expansion of US travel restrictions ordered under a recent proclamation by President Donald Trump, according to a report by CBS News. The directive is being implemented by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
While earlier restrictions targeted short-term and study-related visas such as B-1, B-2, F, M and J categories, the latest move now affects legal immigration pathways, effectively blocking Nigerians from applying for or completing processes related to permanent residency and US citizenship.
A USCIS spokesperson said the action was taken on security grounds, noting that the agency is “conducting a comprehensive review of anyone from anywhere who poses a threat to the United States, including those identified in the President’s latest proclamation.”
US authorities explained that concerns over instability and limited government control in affected countries have made it difficult to carry out thorough background checks on applicants.
Nigeria is among several countries impacted by the expanded suspension, alongside Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
Nationals of these countries will now be unable to submit new applications or have existing green card and citizenship requests processed until further notice.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian government had not issued an official response. However, Nigeria has previously stated its readiness to work with the United States to address immigration and security-related concerns.