Trump administration considers expanding US travel ban to include Nigeria and 35 other countries

DDM News

The United States government is reportedly contemplating a major expansion of its controversial travel ban policy, with Nigeria among the 36 nations now under review.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) has obtained reports indicating that the decision, outlined in an internal State Department memo, could drastically affect visa issuance for African, Caribbean, and Asian countries.

The memo, reportedly signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was dispatched to American diplomatic missions over the weekend.

It includes a list of countries that have been given a strict 60-day deadline to meet newly introduced U.S. vetting benchmarks or face harsh travel sanctions.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and a long-time partner of the United States, is among the countries named in the list.

The proposed policy expansion is seen as one of the most sweeping revisions to the travel ban regulations originally enacted during the Trump administration on June 4, 2020.

That original executive proclamation barred or restricted immigration from several nations deemed non-compliant with U.S. security and information-sharing standards.

Countries such as Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Afghanistan were previously subjected to full travel bans, while partial restrictions were placed on others, including Cuba and Venezuela.

The new draft policy reportedly includes 25 African nations, among them Nigeria, alongside countries from Central Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

According to sources familiar with the document, the key criteria for potential inclusion in the expanded ban include weak identity verification systems, high rates of visa overstays, and systemic government corruption.

The memo describes some of the targeted countries as lacking any “competent or cooperative central authority” to produce valid identity or civil documents.

Others were cited for what the U.S. deems as “widespread government fraud” in their passport or civil registry systems.

Additionally, the document highlights concerns over countries offering “citizenship by investment” with little or no residency requirements, raising red flags over security and document integrity.

It also raises issues regarding “antisemitic and anti-American activities” allegedly linked to nationals from certain nations on the list.

Nigeria’s inclusion in the proposed policy has triggered alarm among immigration advocates and foreign policy analysts due to the country’s extensive cultural, educational, and economic ties with the United States.

Each year, tens of thousands of Nigerians travel to the U.S. for higher education, business development, medical treatment, and family reunification.

A ban or restriction on Nigerian nationals could significantly disrupt these personal and institutional connections.

A State Department spokesperson declined to confirm the development, stating, “We do not comment on internal communications or discussions.”

The White House has also remained silent on the matter, fueling concerns about the lack of transparency around the policy deliberations.

Critics have reacted swiftly, labeling the policy expansion as discriminatory and xenophobic.

Many civil rights groups accuse the Trump administration of pursuing ideologically motivated immigration policies that disproportionately target Muslim-majority and African nations.

In its coverage, The Washington Post noted that critics view these bans as a continuation of racially and ethnically biased policy directions previously criticized in U.S. courts.

The new policy reportedly offers affected countries a narrow path to escape sanctions.

Governments are required to submit comprehensive action plans by 8 a.m. Wednesday, detailing how they intend to improve information sharing, document security, and border enforcement in line with U.S. standards.

Furthermore, countries willing to accept third-country nationals deported from the U.S. or those entering into “safe third country” agreements could reduce their exposure to sanctions.

Such agreements typically oblige partner countries to accept asylum seekers or undocumented migrants turned away by U.S. authorities.

However, many experts have questioned whether smaller or economically weaker nations can meet the technical and political demands laid out in the memo within the two-month deadline.

The list of 36 countries currently under review includes: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Of particular concern to many African observers is the disproportionate number of African nations on the list, 25 out of the 36.

This reinforces fears that the United States may be moving toward a generalized restriction policy targeting the African continent.

Human rights organizations have also raised red flags about the potential humanitarian consequences of such a sweeping travel restriction.

Families could be separated, students could lose academic opportunities, and businesses reliant on cross-border collaboration could suffer irreparable damage.

Experts in international law argue that such policies could violate human rights norms and bilateral agreements between the U.S. and affected countries.

The move comes amid heightened political activity by former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to reinstate and expand immigration restrictions if elected again.

In recent campaign rallies, Trump declared that the next travel ban under his leadership would be “bigger than before.”

The announcement has reignited debate within American society over immigration, national security, and the global image of the United States.

For Nigeria, which boasts one of the most vibrant diasporas in the United States, the implications of such a ban are deeply personal and widely felt.

Nigerians have long contributed to U.S. academic institutions, tech firms, healthcare systems, and the broader economy.

A policy shift of this magnitude risks damaging diplomatic goodwill and severing decades of bilateral cooperation.

African Union officials and ECOWAS diplomats are also reportedly monitoring the development closely.

Several Nigerian-American advocacy groups have issued statements urging the Biden administration to distance itself from the policy and to promote fairness in global mobility governance.

There is currently no official statement from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though diplomatic sources suggest that backchannel engagements with U.S. officials are already underway.

As the deadline for compliance approaches, affected countries face a critical choice: overhaul their documentation and vetting systems or risk becoming pariahs in U.S. immigration law.

The next few weeks may determine whether Nigeria and other nations will remain open to U.S. opportunities—or be pushed to the sidelines by rising geopolitical tensions.

DDM will continue monitoring this evolving situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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