Nigeria is advising its citizens against all but essential travel to the
United States because of the lack of clarity on new immigration rules, the
government said on Monday.
A special adviser to the president on foreign affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa,
said in a statement that Nigerians “without any compelling or essential
reasons” should consider delaying.
“In the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians
with valid multiple-entry US visas being denied entry and sent back to
Nigeria,” she said.
“In such cases reported to the office, such affected persons were sent
back immediately on the next available flight and their visas were
cancelled.”
Dabiri-Erewa said “no reasons were given for the decision by the US
immigration authorities”.
The recommendation to postpone trips was given “until there is clarity on
the new immigration policy” from Washington, she added.
Of the 2.1 million African immigrants living in the United States in 2015,
327,000 were born in Nigeria, according to data from the Pew Research
Center, published in February.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 27 to bar
people from seven, Muslim-majority countries from travelling to the United
States for 90 days.
It also stopped all refugees for 120 days and Syrian refugees permanently.
The ban caused global outrage, as well as chaos across the United States,
before it was frozen by a legal ruling.
Trump is expected to sign a revised travel ban on Monday.
AFP