Trump government has directed the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend green card and citizenship applications filed by Nigerians and nationals of many other countries newly added to the expanded US “travel ban,” citing national security concerns and an ongoing review of immigration vetting processes.
A US government official revealed this, the CBS News reported on Thursday.
This was after the executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, further restricting entry into the United States for nationals from countries deemed high-risk due to what he described as “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that threaten US national security and public safety.
Some countries are subjected to full travel ban while others are partially restricted. Among the 15 additional countries newly subjected to partial restrictions is Nigeria.
Trump had earlier, on October 31, declared Nigeria a “country of particular concern (CPC)” following allegations of a Christian genocide in the country.
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.
Below is the full list of countries reported to be affected by the suspension of green card and citizenship applications:
Countries affected
Full travel ban
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Burkina Faso
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Mali
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Niger
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South Sudan
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Syria
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Laos
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Sierra Leone
Countries with partial travel restrictions
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Angola
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Antigua and Barbuda
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Benin
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Côte d’Ivoire
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Dominica
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Gabon
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Gambia
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Malawi
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Mauritania
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Nigeria
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Senegal
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Tanzania
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Tonga
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Zambia
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Zimbabwe
Previously affected countries
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Afghanistan
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Burundi
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Chad
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Cuba
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Republic of the Congo
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Equatorial Guinea
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Eritrea
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Haiti
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Iran
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Libya
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Myanmar
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Somalia
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Sudan
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Togo
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Turkmenistan
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Yemen
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Venezuela
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