Trump Administration Proposes Broad Visa Ban on Nigeria and 35 Nations

Key Takeaways

• Trump expands visa bans to Nigeria and 35 countries, mainly African, with a 60-day compliance deadline from June 14, 2025.
• Full visa suspensions affect 12 countries, partial bans impact business, student, and immigrant visas in 7 others.
• Bans target security risks: fake IDs, government fraud, visa overstays, and terrorism concerns under INA sections 212(f), 215(a).

The Trump administration is moving forward with a major expansion of visa bans and travel restrictions, targeting Nigeria 🇳🇬 and up to 35 other countries, most of them in Africa. This sweeping policy shift, outlined in an internal State Department memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sent to U.S. diplomats in the affected nations on June 14, 2025. The memo gives these countries a strict 60-day deadline to submit plans showing how they will meet new U.S. security and immigration standards or risk being added to an expanded travel ban list. The move follows a June 4, 2025, proclamation by President Trump that already imposed broad visa bans on 19 countries, effective June 9, 2025.

This article explains what the new visa bans mean, who is affected, why the Trump administration is taking this step, and what comes next for millions of people in Nigeria 🇳🇬 and other countries under review.

What Is Happening and Who Is Affected?

On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation restricting or limiting entry from 19 countries. For 12 of these countries—including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—all immigrant and non-immigrant visas are almost completely suspended. This means people from these countries cannot get visas to visit, work, study, or join family in the United States 🇺🇸, with only a few exceptions.

Seven other countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—face partial bans. These mostly affect immigrant visas (for people moving permanently) and some non-immigrant categories, such as business (B-1), tourism (B-2), student (F, M), and exchange visitor (J) visas.

Now, the Trump administration is considering adding 36 more countries to the list, including Nigeria 🇳🇬, Ghana, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and several island nations. Of these, 25 are African countries, making up nearly 70% of the new review list. The remaining 11 are from the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific.

Key facts:
– Proclamation date: June 4, 2025
– Ban effective date: June 9, 2025
– Memo sent: June 14, 2025
– Compliance deadline: 60 days from June 14, 2025 (mid-August 2025)
– Initial action plan due: 8 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2025
– Countries currently banned: 19
– Countries under review: 36 (25 African, 11 others)

Why Is the Trump Administration Expanding Visa Bans?

President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio say these bans are needed for national security. The administration argues that some countries cannot safely and reliably confirm the identity of people applying for U.S. visas. They point to problems such as:

• Unreliable identity documents: Some countries do not have strong systems for issuing passports or other IDs, making it hard to know if applicants are who they say they are.
• Government fraud: There are concerns about corruption or fake documents being used to get visas.
• High visa overstay rates: Many people from these countries have stayed in the United States 🇺🇸 after their visas expired.
• Security threats: The administration cites risks of terrorism and transnational crime.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these reasons are similar to those used in earlier travel bans, including the one upheld by the Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii (2018). The administration is using sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which give the president broad power to restrict entry to the United States 🇺🇸 for national security reasons.

How Will the New Policy Work?

Step-by-Step Process for Affected Countries

1. Notification: U.S. embassies deliver the State Department memo to the governments of the 36 countries under review.
2. Initial Action Plan: Each country must submit a plan by June 18, 2025, showing how they will meet U.S. security and immigration standards.
3. 60-Day Compliance Window: Countries have until mid-August 2025 to make real progress or show reforms.
4. U.S. Review: The State Department will look at each country’s efforts and decide whether to impose, lift, or change restrictions.
5. Implementation: If a country does not meet the benchmarks, visa bans or restrictions will be enforced. Details will be published in a new presidential proclamation.

What Are the Benchmarks?

Countries can avoid or reduce restrictions by:

• Improving their systems for issuing identity documents
• Cooperating with the United States 🇺🇸 on security and sharing information
• Accepting deported third-country nationals (people sent back from the U.S. who are not citizens of the country)
• Entering “safe third country” agreements, which means agreeing to take in asylum seekers who pass through their country before reaching the United States 🇺🇸

What Types of Visas Are Affected?

Total Visa Ban: For countries facing a full ban, all types of visas are suspended. This includes:

• Family reunification visas: For people joining relatives in the United States 🇺🇸
• Employment visas: For workers and professionals
• Student visas: For those wishing to study in the United States 🇺🇸
• Visitor visas: For tourism or business

Partial Ban: Some countries may face bans only on certain visa categories, such as:

• Business (B-1) and tourism (B-2) visas
• Student (F, M) and exchange visitor (J) visas
• Immigrant visas (for permanent residence)

Exceptions: There are a few exceptions, such as for diplomats or people who already have valid visas issued before the ban’s effective date.

What Does This Mean for Nigeria 🇳🇬 and Other Countries Under Review?

Nigeria 🇳🇬, Africa’s most populous country, has a large diaspora in the United States 🇺🇸. If the Trump administration adds Nigeria 🇳🇬 to the expanded visa ban list, it would have a huge impact on:

• Families: Many Nigerians have relatives in the United States 🇺🇸. A ban would stop family reunification, keeping families apart.
• Students: Thousands of Nigerian students attend U.S. universities. A ban could end new student visas, hurting both students and American schools.
• Workers and professionals: Nigerian professionals contribute to U.S. businesses, especially in healthcare and technology. A ban would block new talent from coming.
• Travel and trade: Business trips, tourism, and trade between Nigeria 🇳🇬 and the United States 🇺🇸 would be disrupted.

Other countries under review, such as Ghana, Ethiopia, and Egypt, face similar risks. The bans could affect millions of people, not just those seeking to move permanently but also those wanting to visit, study, or work in the United States 🇺🇸.

Why Are These Bans Controversial?

U.S. Government Perspective

The Trump administration says the bans are needed to protect national security and make sure only people who can be properly checked are allowed into the United States 🇺🇸. They argue that strong vetting is necessary to prevent terrorism and crime.

Affected Countries’ Perspective

Many governments, especially in Africa, see the bans as unfair and discriminatory. They argue that the bans punish ordinary people, damage diplomatic relations, and hurt economic ties. Most affected countries have not yet made formal statements, but diplomatic tensions are expected to rise.

Immigration Advocates’ Perspective

Groups that support immigrants warn that the bans are too broad and hurt families, students, and workers who have nothing to do with security threats. They say the bans could cause humanitarian problems and harm the U.S. economy by keeping out talented people and students.

Business and Education Sectors

U.S. companies and universities are worried about losing skilled workers and students from countries like Nigeria 🇳🇬. They say the bans could make it harder to find talent and could hurt international trade and research.

Historical Background: How Did We Get Here?

The Trump administration’s approach to visa bans is not new. In 2017, President Trump signed the first travel ban, which targeted several Muslim-majority countries. After several legal challenges, the Supreme Court upheld a version of the ban in 2018. Over the years, the list of banned countries has changed, with some added (like Nigeria 🇳🇬 in 2020) and others removed (like Chad).

The current move is the largest expansion yet, both in the number of countries and the types of visas affected. The administration says it is responding to ongoing security concerns and the need for better cooperation from foreign governments.

What Happens Next?

Immediate Next Steps

• Countries must submit compliance plans by June 18, 2025.
• They have until mid-August 2025 to meet U.S. benchmarks.
• The State Department will review progress and decide which countries will face new or continued bans.

Possible Outcomes

• Some countries may avoid bans by making quick reforms or cooperating with U.S. demands.
• Others may be added to the ban list if they do not meet the requirements.
• Legal challenges are likely, as advocacy groups have already announced plans to sue, as they did with earlier bans.
• Diplomatic negotiations may lead to exemptions or reduced restrictions for some countries.

What Should Affected Individuals and Families Do?

If you are from Nigeria 🇳🇬 or another country under review, here are some steps you can take:

• Stay informed: Check the U.S. Department of State’s website for official updates and country-specific information.
• Contact your embassy: Your country’s embassy or consulate in the United States 🇺🇸 can provide guidance and support.
• Consult an immigration lawyer: If you have a pending visa application or are worried about your status, seek legal advice.
• Gather documents: Make sure your identity documents are up to date and accurate, as this is a key concern for U.S. authorities.
• Monitor deadlines: Be aware of key dates, such as the compliance plan deadline (June 18, 2025) and the end of the 60-day window (mid-August 2025).

Official Resources and Where to Get Help

• U.S. Department of State: For the latest information on visa bans and travel restrictions, visit the official State Department website.
• White House: Presidential proclamations and executive orders are published on the official White House website.
• American Immigration Council: Offers legal analysis and updates on U.S. immigration policy.
• VisaVerge.com: Provides expert analysis and news on immigration developments.
• Your country’s embassy or consulate: For personalized guidance and advocacy.

Summary Table: Key Details of the Proposed Visa Ban Expansion

Conclusion: What Does This Mean for the Future?

The Trump administration’s plan to expand visa bans to Nigeria 🇳🇬 and 35 other countries marks a major shift in U.S. immigration policy. While the stated goal is to protect national security, the move will have far-reaching effects on families, students, workers, and businesses in both the United States 🇺🇸 and the affected countries. The coming weeks will be critical, as governments rush to meet U.S. demands and advocacy groups prepare legal challenges.

For individuals and families, staying informed and seeking help from official sources is more important than ever. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the situation is changing quickly, and the outcome will depend on both diplomatic negotiations and legal battles. For the most current updates, always check official government communications and trusted immigration news sources.

Learn Today

Visa Ban → An official suspension of visa issuance to nationals from specific countries, restricting their U.S. entry.
Compliance Plan → A detailed strategy countries must submit to meet U.S. visa security and immigration standards.
Immigration and Nationality Act → U.S. federal law granting the president authority to restrict foreign entry for security reasons.
Safe Third Country Agreement → A pact where countries agree to accept asylum seekers transiting through their territory before the U.S.
Visa Overstay → When a visa holder remains in the U.S. beyond the authorized period, violating immigration laws.

This Article in a Nutshell

On June 14, 2025, the Trump administration ordered 36 countries, including Nigeria, to comply with new visa security standards or face bans. The sweeping expansion reflects national security aims amid controversy, affecting families, students, workers, and businesses dependent on U.S. visas across multiple nations and industries.
— By VisaVerge.com