Nigerians Affected as US Suspends Green Card Processing Amid Travel Ban Expansion

MaTaZ ArIsInG
Dallas, Texas

The United States Government has temporarily stopped legal immigration applications filed by Nigerians and citizens of other countries recently added to its expanded travel ban proclamation, according to multiple news reports. The move affects green card (permanent residency) and citizenship petitions, leaving many hopeful immigrants in legal limbo. 

The freeze applies to applications submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by Nigerians and nationals of other countries that were newly included in a travel restriction policy this week. The suspension also covers those already in the United States seeking to adjust their status or naturalise as U.S. citizens. 

Expanded Travel Ban and Policy Background

Earlier this month, the U.S. administration significantly expanded its travel ban policy to include 20 additional countries. This extension follows an earlier proclamation that already restricted nationals of 19 countries. The new list includes nations subject to either full entry bans or partial travel limitations, with Nigeria placed under partial restrictions. 

Under the expanded travel ban, countries such as Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe face heightened restrictions. Nationals of some nations are subject to full travel bans, while others encounter limits on specific visas and longer vetting processes. 

Officials told CBS News that USCIS has extended the halt on legal immigration cases to include the nationalities from the newly added countries. This came after the government’s decision earlier in December to freeze immigration petitions from the original 19 countries on the travel ban list. 

U.S. authorities say these measures are tied to national security concerns and weaknesses in screening and information-sharing systems with the affected nations. However, the suspension of legal immigration benefits has sparked controversy, given the wide reach of the policy and its human impact. 

For Nigerians and others affected, the policy change means applications for green cards and citizenship will not be processed until further notice. The temporary halt applies to a range of immigration benefits, including adjustment of status and pathways to permanent residency and naturalisation. 

The suspension has left many applicants uncertain about their future plans. Some Nigerian immigrants living in the United States had hoped to regularise their status after years of waiting, only to find their applications paused without a clear timeline for resumption. Experts warn this could delay family reunifications, employment authorisations, and long-term settlement plans. 

A senior U.S. official who spoke anonymously confirmed to CBS News that the expanded policy is part of a broader crackdown on legal immigration under the current administration. The official said the pause will remain in place during a comprehensive review of screening and vetting procedures, with no definite end date.

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