The United States government has placed a temporary hold on several legal immigration applications submitted by Nigerians and citizens of other countries newly added to its expanded travel ban, according to reports by CBS News. The move affects a wide range of immigration processes and represents a further tightening of legal migration under the Trump administration.
The suspension largely impacts applicants from parts of Africa and Asia and is seen as an extension of the administration’s renewed push to restrict immigration. Notably, many of those affected are believed to be individuals who are already legally residing in the United States and are in the process of adjusting their immigration status, applying for permanent residency, or seeking American citizenship.
Earlier in December, the administration instructed the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause the processing of all immigration-related petitions—such as green card applications and naturalisation requests—submitted by nationals of countries previously listed under the travel ban first introduced in June. This directive also extended to asylum cases handled by USCIS.
The renewed immigration restrictions followed a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., during the Thanksgiving period, in which two National Guard soldiers were killed. The attack was reportedly carried out by an Afghan national, after which the administration announced a series of stricter immigration measures, including the suspension of visa and immigration processing for Afghan nationals.
This week, President Trump further broadened the scope of the travel ban by adding 20 more countries. Under the updated proclamation, five countries now face a complete ban on entry into the United States, while 15 others are subject to partial restrictions affecting certain categories of travellers and immigrants.
A US government official, speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity, confirmed that USCIS has expanded its internal freeze to include nationals of the newly listed countries. As a result, immigration applications from citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria—now under full travel bans—have been affected.
In addition, partial restrictions now apply to nationals of Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Applicants from these countries may face delays or suspensions depending on the type of immigration benefit sought.
Before this latest expansion, the suspension already covered nationals from 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. Under the new directive, Laos and Sierra Leone were moved from partial restriction to a full entry ban.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow appeared to reference the expanded policy in a social media post on Thursday, stating that the agency is undertaking a broad review of individuals who may pose security risks to the United States. He said the review includes persons identified in the president’s latest proclamation aimed at strengthening immigration controls.
Taken together, the expanded travel ban now affects citizens of more than 60 percent of African countries and approximately one-fifth of all nations globally, making it one of the most extensive immigration restrictions in recent US history.
President Trump has defended the measures, arguing that they are necessary to protect national security and address challenges related to vetting applicants from certain regions. However, the policy has drawn sharp criticism, particularly among Nigerians and other affected nationals, many of whom view the decision as excessive and discriminatory.
Critics have questioned the justification offered by US authorities, warning that the restrictions could strain diplomatic relations and negatively impact economic and educational ties. Some commentators also argue that the move unfairly targets developing nations without sufficient evidence to support the stated security concerns.
Reacting to the development, former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani described the expanded ban as a strong indication that migrants from poorer countries are increasingly being shut out of opportunities in the United States.
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