The United States (U.S) government has halted the processing of permanent residency (Green Cards) and citizenship petitions for those already residing within the US.

While previous restrictions primarily focused on preventing entry at the border, this latest escalation targets legal immigrants who are integrated into American society and seeking to regularise their status.

This affects Nigeria and several other countries recently added to the Trump administration’s expanded ‘travel ban’ proclamation.

The decision, authorised by Marco Rubio, secretary of state, represents a significant tightening of US border policy and follows a high-profile domestic security incident involving a recipient of the scheme.

A state department spokesperson confirmed the policy shift, relaying the secretary’s position:

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ‘indefinitely paused the issuance of diversity visas until we can be sure we know exactly who we are letting into our country.”

The suspension was triggered by the identification of Claudio Neves Valente, the primary suspect in the recent shooting at Brown University, as a diversity visa recipient. Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national and former student at the university, was also accused of the murder of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor earlier this week. Following a multi-state manhunt, Valente was found dead on Thursday night.

Earlier this month, the White House instructed US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend all petitions from nationals of 19 countries originally restricted in June. This policy has now been extended to include 20 additional nations following a proclamation issued on Tuesday.

Under the new rules, five nations namely: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, face total entry bans. A further 15 nations, including Nigeria, Angola, Senegal, and Malawi, are subject to partial restrictions that have nonetheless triggered a total suspension of internal immigration processing.

The administration’s hardline stance follows the tragic thanksgiving week shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. Authorities have alleged the attack was carried out by an Afghan national, a claim the White House has used to justify a broader vetting crackdown.

The lottery under fire

The Diversity Visa Programme, colloquially known as the “Green Card Lottery,” grants up to 55,000 visas annually through a system of random selection.

To qualify, applicants must possess a high school education or specific vocational experience and undergo security vetting.

However, the programme has long been a focal point of President Trump’s criticism. During his first term, he called for its abolition after a 2017 terrorist attack in New York City was linked to a programme recipient.

Trump has frequently advocated for a transition toward a “merit-based” points system, prioritising highly skilled, English-speaking immigrants over those selected by lottery.

Impact on global applicants

The suspension is expected to have a profound impact on applicants from Africa, Asia, and Europe, who constitute the vast majority of the programme’s beneficiaries. In the 2026 fiscal year, African nationals represented the largest share of participants.

Legal experts have noted that the pause affects not only those waiting abroad but also individuals currently residing legally in the US who were in the process of adjusting their status. Jeremy McKinney, an immigration solicitor, highlighted the procedural hurdles:

“DV lottery winners who are already legally residing in the United States must apply through USCIS to adjust their status to permanent residence. (The State Department) not only administers the lottery but also issues the immigrant visas.”

This latest move is seen as an escalation of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown, as the White House seeks to leverage domestic security concerns to enact fundamental changes to the American immigration landscape.

Diplomatic and humanitarian fallout

With the ban now affecting over 60 per cent of the African continent, critics argue the policy is less about national security and more about a targeted ideological shift in US demographics.

The decision is being viewed as a significant diplomatic snub, with officials warning it could inflict lasting economic harm and strain the long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the US.

In a statement on social media, Joseph Edlow, USCIS director defended the freeze, stating that the agency is conducting a “comprehensive review” to identify potential threats and “restore law and order” to the immigration system.

A Departure from tradition

The inclusion of high-migration countries like Nigeria, which boasts one of the most highly educated immigrant groups in the US, is particularly significant.

By halting the pathway to citizenship for those already on American soil, the administration is effectively creating a class of legal limbo residents.

Legal experts suggest that this “freeze” may face immediate challenges in the US court system. “Stopping someone at the border is one thing,” noted a immigration attorney. “But refusing to process the application of a tax-paying legal resident who has followed every rule is a radical departure from constitutional norms.” (BusinessDay)

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