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US halts processing of green card and citizenship applications from Nigerians and other newly listed countries
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Action follows expansion of Trump-era “travel ban” affecting African and Asian nations
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Move sparks criticism over fairness, security justification, and diplomatic impact
The United States government has temporarily suspended the processing of legal immigration applications, including green cards and citizenship, from Nigeria and several other countries newly added to the US “travel ban” proclamation, according to a report by CBS News.
The suspension affects applicants from a mix of African and Asian countries, many of whom are already legally resident in the US and seeking a change of status or naturalisation. The policy forms part of a broader tightening of immigration controls expanded this month under the Trump administration.
Earlier in December, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was directed to freeze all immigration petitions from nationals of countries listed under the travel ban, including requests for permanent residency and citizenship. The measures followed a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., allegedly involving an Afghan national, after which the administration announced multiple immigration restrictions.
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In addition to halting immigration petitions, USCIS also suspended decisions on asylum cases and paused visa and immigration processing for Afghan nationals.
On Tuesday, the administration expanded the travel ban to cover 20 additional countries, fully barring entry from five and partially restricting travel from 15 others. A US official told CBS News that USCIS has extended the suspension to include nationals of these newly added countries.
Countries facing a full ban include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, while partial restrictions now apply to Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and several others.
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Previously affected countries included Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Venezuela, among others. In the latest update, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial restrictions to a full entry ban.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, in a social media post, said the agency was conducting a comprehensive review of individuals deemed to pose security risks under the president’s latest proclamation.
Overall, the expanded policy now affects over 60 percent of African countries and about one-fifth of nations worldwide.
While US authorities argue the restrictions are necessary for national security and vetting concerns, the move has drawn sharp criticism in Nigeria, with commentators warning of diplomatic fallout, economic consequences, and questioning the security rationale.
Former senator Shehu Sani described the policy as “a clear signal that migrants from developing countries are no longer welcome.”
