The USA (US) Division of State, in a press release has imposed a visa ban on any Nigerian and their speedy members of the family who’ve directed, authorised or supported violations of non secular freedom.
The assertion made on Wednesday is titled ‘Combating Egregious Anti-Christian Violence in Nigeria and Globally’, stated the US is taking a decisive motion in response to the mass killings and violence towards Christians by violent actors in Nigeria and past the nation.
Learn additionally: US lawmakers push for visa bans, asset freezes in response to Nigeria’s violence
It named the violent actors as radical terrorists and Fulani ethnic militias.
In accordance with the assertion, “A brand new coverage below Part 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act will permit the State Division to limit visa issuance to people who’ve directed, authorised, considerably supported, participated in, or carried out violations of non secular freedom and, the place applicable, their speedy members of the family”.
“As President Trump made clear, the USA can not stand by whereas such atrocities are taking place in Nigeria, and quite a few different international locations”, the assertion stated.
The assertion additionally famous that this restriction will apply to Nigeria and another governments or people engaged in violations of non secular freedom.
Considerations over the security of Christians in Nigeria had escalated on Capitol Hill, following an instruction from Donald Trump to the Home Appropriations Committee to analyze what he termed the “slaughter” of believers within the West African nation.
The mandate initially issued by Trump on October 31, led to a high-level briefing to collect testimony on the violence.
The session was convened by Mario Díaz-Balart, vice chair of the Home Appropriations Committee and Chairman of its Nationwide Safety Subcommittee.
Learn additionally:US plans sweeping visa bans on 41 countries, 8 of them in Africa
The briefing introduced collectively members of the Home Appropriations and Home International Affairs Committees, alongside outstanding spiritual freedom specialists. Attendees included Representatives Robert Aderholt, Riley Moore, Brian Mast, and Chris Smith, in addition to Vicky Hartzler, Chair of the US Fee on Worldwide Spiritual Freedom.
They have been joined by Sean Nelson of the Alliance Defending Freedom Worldwide and Dr Ebenezer Obadare from the Council on International Relations, offering knowledgeable evaluation.
