Trump Order May Delay 5,000 Nigerian Immigrants

Thousands of Nigerians hoping to move to the United States could face delays following new visa restrictions announced by President Donald Trump, which place Nigeria among 75 affected countries.

Data from the U.S. Consulate in Lagos show that more than 5,600 immigrant visas were issued to Nigerians in 2023, up from about 4,200 the previous year.

At least 5,000 immigrant visas granted to Nigerians annually could now be impacted by the new policy, which pauses immigrant visa processing for selected countries, according to an analysis by The PUNCH.

In total, over 70,000 Nigerians received U.S. visas in 2024, including both immigrant and non-immigrant categories, as per The PUNCH report.

Of this number, more than 63,000 were non-immigrant visas issued through the U.S. missions in Abuja and Lagos, while over 7,000 were immigrant visas.

A spokesperson for the United States Department of State confirmed that immigrant visa processing for nationals of the affected countries would be suspended beginning January 21, 2026.

In a statement posted on X, the State Department said the pause targets countries whose “migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.”

It added that the freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that “new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”

“The pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival,”  the State Department wrote.

“We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused. The Trump Administration will always put America First.”

The measure affects 27 African nations,  22 Asian countries, 8 European countries, 13 North American and Caribbean countries, 3 South American countries, and 1 Oceanian country.

They are Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Yemen.

Others are Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand and Uzbekistan.

Also on the list are Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenadines, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Fiji.

The new visa restrictions follow a separate policy announced last week requiring visa applicants from 38 countries, including Nigeria, to post bonds of up to $15,000.