United States President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping new immigration directive that would permanently block immigration from Nigeria and dozens of other countries classified as developing or “Third World” nations. The announcement, made late on Thanksgiving Day through his Truth Social account, marks one of the most far-reaching immigration positions of his administration to date.
In his statement, Trump claimed that immigration must be paused indefinitely to allow the U.S. system to “reset” and undo what he described as “years of reckless admissions under Joe Biden.” He insisted that only individuals who represent a “net asset” to the United States, and who “love this country,” should be allowed to remain.
Move Targets Over 60 Countries, Including Nigeria
Citing global human capital rankings published by the World Population Review, Trump referenced more than 60 nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands—Nigeria included—as part of the category he intends to restrict. While the announcement did not include a full country-by-country list, the message made it clear that the new policy would sweep broadly across developing regions.
Announcement Follows White House Shooting Incident
The declaration came only hours after Trump publicly confirmed the death of Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard, who was reportedly shot near the White House. The alleged attacker, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal from Afghanistan, has fueled renewed debates within Washington about screening procedures and immigrant vetting. Analysts have suggested that this incident may have played a direct role in accelerating Trump’s decision.
USCIS Orders Review of Previously Issued Green Cards
Adding to the development, the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) revealed on Thursday that he had ordered a fresh review of all green cards previously issued to citizens of what he called “countries of concern.” When pressed by CNN to clarify which nations fall under this category, the USCIS chief pointed to a list of 19 countries featured in a June presidential proclamation.
The list includes: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Although Nigeria was not part of that earlier 19-country list, Trump’s new Thanksgiving statement explicitly referenced Nigeria among the nations that would fall under the incoming permanent restrictions.
Global Reactions Expected as Policy Debate Intensifies
Trump’s declaration has already stirred concern among immigrant communities and foreign governments, many of whom expect significant diplomatic pushback if the policy is formalised. Immigration experts argue that reversing decades of U.S. visa admissions on such a broad scale would have far-reaching consequences for international relations, trade, education, and diaspora communities.
More reactions are expected as U.S. agencies begin interpreting and implementing the president’s latest directive.
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