The United States government has placed a temporary halt on immigration applications submitted by Nigerians and nationals of other countries newly added to President Donald Trump’s expanded travel ban, according to a report by CBS News.
The suspension affects legal immigration processes handled by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including applications for permanent residency and citizenship. Many of those impacted are migrants already living in the United States who are seeking to regularise or adjust their immigration status.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration ordered USCIS to pause all immigration petitions from nationals of countries listed under the travel ban first announced in June. The directive followed heightened security measures introduced after the Thanksgiving week shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., an incident allegedly involving an Afghan national.
As part of the expanded restrictions announced on Tuesday, the administration added 20 more countries to the proclamation. Five countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria — now face full entry bans, while citizens of 15 others, including Nigeria, are subject to partial restrictions.
A US official, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity, confirmed that immigration case suspensions have been extended to nationals of the newly listed countries. In addition to Nigeria, the partial restrictions apply to Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Previously affected countries included Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela and several others. Under the latest order, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial restrictions to full entry bans.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow appeared to allude to the widened scope of the freeze in a post on social media, stating: “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.”
With the latest additions, the travel ban now affects nationals from more than 60 per cent of African countries and about one-fifth of countries worldwide. The Trump administration has defended the policy as a national security measure, citing concerns about vetting procedures in the affected nations.
The decision has, however, drawn criticism from Nigerians and other stakeholders, who argue that the restrictions are excessive and unfair. Critics warn of diplomatic fallout and possible economic consequences, while questioning the security rationale behind the policy.
Former senator Shehu Sani condemned the move, describing it as “a clear signal that migrants from developing countries are no longer welcome.”
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