Following the proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, further restricting entry into the United States for nationals from countries deemed high-risk, the Trump administration 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.”
According to the US government, the decision was based on what it described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that pose risks to US national security and public safety. Citing national security concerns and an ongoing review of immigration vetting procedures, CBS News reported the development on Thursday.
Among the 15 additional countries newly subjected to partial restrictions is Nigeria.
Below is the full list of countries revealed to be affected by the suspension of green card and citizenship applications:
Countries affected
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
- 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 expands earlier restrictions announced in June, under which nationals of several countries faced partial limits on immigration processing. In the most recent proclamation, Laos and Sierra Leone — which previously faced partial restrictions — were upgraded to a full entry ban, prompting USCIS to extend the freeze on immigration petitions, including green card and citizenship applications.
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