US HALTS GREEN CARD & CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION PROCESSING FOR NIGERIANS IN NEW IMMIGRATION POLICY SHIFT

The United States government has temporarily stopped the processing of Green Card and citizenship applications involving Nigerians, following the expansion of a new immigration review policy under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Reports from U.S. immigration sources indicate that application approvals connected to permanent residency, citizenship, and status adjustment for Nigerians will now experience indefinite delays under tightened security and background screening procedures.
The development is part of a revised immigration framework tied to national-security reforms and travel-policy restructuring that includes Nigeria on a list of affected countries.
USCIS officials explained that the halt affects:
Green Card applications already submitted,
New citizenship filings,
Status adjustments from temporary to permanent residency,
Pending interviews and oath processing procedures.
The Nigerian community in the United States has reacted with anxiety, as thousands of applicants currently await processing results. Immigration attorneys also warn that the halt could create lengthy backlogs and legal complications.
Critics argue that the policy may disproportionately affect Nigerians who legally reside in the U.S. and have lived, worked, or studied in compliance with immigration laws.
Meanwhile, immigration analysts say the new restrictions form part of President Donald Trump’s broader enforcement agenda, which aims to tighten immigration vetting and restructure visa pathways for foreign nationals.
Nigeria has one of the largest African immigrant populations in the United States, and thousands of Nigerian professionals apply for permanent residency annually.
More official details are expected as legal advocates and civil-rights groups monitor the directive.