The US authorities has quickly suspended the processing of authorized immigration functions filed by Nigerians and residents of a number of different international locations newly added to President Donald Trump’s expanded “journey ban,” in line with a report by CBS Information.
The event alerts an escalation of the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on authorized immigration and impacts candidates from elements of Africa and Asia.
Lots of these impacted are lawful immigrants already resident in the US who’re searching for to regulate their immigration standing, get hold of everlasting residency, or change into Americans.
Learn additionally: American man cries out as Trump’s travel ban bars Nigerian wife from coming over
Earlier in December, the administration directed the US Citizenship and Immigration Companies (USCIS) to freeze all immigration petitions, together with functions for naturalisation and inexperienced playing cards submitted by nationals of nations listed underneath the June journey ban or associated restrictions.
The order adopted the Thanksgiving week capturing of two Nationwide Guard troopers in Washington, D.C., an assault allegedly carried out by an Afghan nationwide.
In response, the administration introduced a collection of immigration measures, together with the suspension of all asylum choices dealt with by USCIS and a halt to the processing of immigration and visa requests submitted by Afghan nationals.
On Tuesday, Trump additional expanded the scope of the journey ban, including 20 new international locations to the proclamation. Below the revised order, residents of 5 international locations face a full entry ban into the US, whereas these from 15 different nations are topic to partial restrictions.
A US official, who spoke to CBS Information on situation of anonymity as a result of the modifications haven’t been formally introduced, mentioned USCIS has now prolonged its suspension of immigration case processing to cowl nationals of the newly listed international locations.
The pause now impacts residents of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria, that are topic to full journey bans.
Learn additionally: US imposes travel ban on Nigerians over security, visa overstay concerns
It additionally applies to nationals of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which face partial restrictions underneath the most recent proclamation.
Beforehand, the suspension coated nationals of Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Laos, Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Yemen and Venezuela.
In the latest replace, Laos and Sierra Leone have been moved from partial restrictions to a full entry ban.
In a social media submit late Thursday, Joseph Edlow, USCIS Director, affirm the scope of the suspension, saying the company was reviewing immigration circumstances involving people recognized underneath the president’s newest proclamation.
“USCIS is conducting a complete overview of anybody from anyplace who poses a risk to the US, together with these recognized within the President’s newest proclamation to revive legislation and order in our nation’s immigration system,” Edlow mentioned.
Taken collectively, the expanded journey ban now impacts nationals from greater than 60 per cent of African international locations and roughly one-fifth of nations worldwide.
The Trump administration has defended the coverage as a nationwide safety measure, arguing that a number of the affected international locations lack enough programs for vetting travellers and sharing safety info.
Learn additionally: U.S travel ban will not affect permanent residents, green card holders – Immigration expert
In Nigeria, the choice has sparked widespread criticism and nervousness, notably because it coincides with the festive “Detty December” interval, when journey between Nigeria and the US sometimes peaks.
Many Nigerians have described the transfer as unfair and disproportionate, questioning the safety and spiritual freedom considerations cited by Washington.
Some warned of diplomatic fallout and potential financial penalties, arguing that the coverage might pressure US–Nigeria relations and disrupt instructional, enterprise and household ties.
