US Court Declares Trump Visa Policy Affecting Nigerians Unlawful
A United States federal court has declared unlawful a policy introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration that suspended immigrant visa processing for Nigerian citizens and nationals of 74 other countries.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas, sitting in the Southern District of New York, issued the ruling on Friday, finding that the policy introduced by the US Department of State in January exceeded the authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio under federal immigration law.
The policy had halted the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, including Nigeria.
The Trump administration had defended the measure on concerns that some applicants could become dependent on public assistance after moving to the US.
Other African countries affected included Ghana, Cameroon, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Tunisia.
The affected countries also span Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America.
The ruling effectively blocks the policy, providing a reprieve for Nigerians and other affected visa applicants.
Follow us for more news updates…
Author
