The Trump administration has suspended green card and citizenship applications for Nigerians and nationals from 34 other countries following an expanded travel ban proclamation citing national security concerns, with seven countries facing full entry bans and 15 others including Nigeria under partial restrictions, affecting thousands of pending immigration applications and blocking pathways to permanent residency for applicants who had already invested substantial time and resources in their processes.
The United States government has expanded its suspension of legal immigration applications to include nationals from Nigeria and 34 other countries following President Donald Trump’s expanded travel ban proclamation, CBS News reported Thursday.
A US government official who requested anonymity revealed that the Trump administration has directed the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to halt green card and citizenship applications filed by affected nationals, citing national security concerns and an ongoing review of immigration vetting processes. The suspension follows a proclamation signed by President Trump on Tuesday, further restricting entry for nationals from countries deemed high-risk due to what it described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing.”
Nigeria is among 15 countries newly subjected to partial restrictions under the latest directive. Trump had earlier, on October 31, declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern” following allegations of Christian genocide in the country. The expanded ban now affects nationals of over 60% of African countries and roughly 20% of all nations globally.
Countries facing full travel bans include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone. These nations join previously banned countries Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Venezuela, among others. Nationals from these countries face complete entry restrictions and suspended immigration processing.
Nigeria falls under partial travel restrictions alongside Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. While not facing complete entry bans, nationals from these countries will experience suspended green card and citizenship applications, significantly impacting their ability to pursue permanent residency or naturalization.
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 full entry bans, prompting USCIS to extend the freeze on immigration petitions.
In a statement posted on social media late Thursday, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow appeared to reference the expansion. “USCIS is conducting a comprehensive review of anyone from anywhere who poses a threat to the U.S., including those identified in the President’s latest proclamation to restore law and order in our nation’s immigration system,” Edlow wrote.
Previously affected countries under earlier proclamations include Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Yemen, and Venezuela. The comprehensive list now encompasses 35 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Trump has argued the broad restrictions are designed to safeguard national security and address concerns about the ability to vet people from affected nations. The administration maintains that countries on the list have failed to meet information-sharing standards necessary for proper vetting of visa applicants and travelers.
However, critics have denounced the policy as discriminatory, noting that it disproportionately applies to nations in Africa and Asia. Human rights organizations and immigration advocates argue that the blanket restrictions punish ordinary citizens seeking legitimate pathways to residency and citizenship based on their nationality rather than individual circumstances or merit.
The suspension affects thousands of pending applications from Nigerian nationals and others who had already invested significant time and resources into their immigration processes. Many applicants had completed initial stages of their applications, paid substantial fees, and met preliminary requirements before the suspension was announced.
For Nigerians specifically, the development adds another layer of complexity to an already strained immigration relationship with the United States. The country faces both the partial travel restrictions announced Tuesday, which limit business, tourist, and student visas effective January 1, 2026, and now the suspension of pathways to permanent residency and citizenship.
The official who spoke to CBS News indicated that the suspension will remain in effect pending the comprehensive review announced by USCIS Director Edlow, though no timeline has been provided for when the review might be completed or restrictions lifted. The lack of clarity leaves thousands of applicants in limbo, uncertain about the fate of their American immigration dreams.
As of press time, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation had not issued official responses to the expanded restrictions.