A US government official has disclosed that 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.”
The official, speaking in a report by CBS News on Thursday, said the move is tied to national security concerns and an ongoing review of immigration vetting processes.
The development follows a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, which further restricts entry into the United States for nationals from countries deemed high‑risk.
The proclamation cited “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information‑sharing” that it says pose a threat to US national security and public safety.
Among the 15 additional countries newly subjected to partial restrictions under the expanded travel ban is Nigeria.
Trump had previously, on October 31, labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern” following allegations of Christian genocide in the country.
Below is the full list of countries revealed to be affected by the suspension of green card and citizenship applications:
Burkina Faso
Mali
Niger
South Sudan
Syria
Laos
Sierra Leone
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Benin
Côte d’Ivoire
Dominica
Gabon
Gambia
Malawi
Mauritania
Nigeria
Senegal
Tanzania
Tonga
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Afghanistan
Burundi
Chad
Cuba
Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Libya
Myanmar
Somalia
Sudan
Togo
Turkmenistan
Yemen
Venezuela