US President Donald Trump is considering imposing a travel ban on Nigeria and citizens of 35 other countries, marking a significant expansion of the administration's restrictive immigration policies announced earlier this month.

According to a State Department memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reported by The Washington Post, the governments of the listed countries have been given a 60-day ultimatum to meet new benchmarks and requirements established by the State Department.

The memo set a deadline of 8am on Wednesday for the affected nations to provide an initial action plan for meeting these requirements. Of the 36 countries facing potential restrictions, 25 are African nations, highlighting the regional focus of the proposed policy.

Reasons Behind the Potential Ban

The State Department cited several concerns that led to countries being included on the list. Some nations were flagged for having "no competent or cooperative central government authority to produce reliable identity documents or other civil documents," while others were noted for "widespread government fraud."

Additional concerns included high numbers of citizens who had overstayed their visas in the United States, raising immigration compliance issues for the Trump administration.

Countries Facing Potential Restrictions

The complete list of countries under scrutiny includes:

  • Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon
  • Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana
  • Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga
  • Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

This potential visa ban would have significant implications for international travel, business relationships, and diplomatic ties between the United States and the affected countries, particularly for Nigeria, which has one of the largest populations among the listed nations.

The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official response to this development. However, if implemented, the restrictions could affect thousands of Nigerians who travel to the United States annually for business, education, tourism, and family visits.

Stay connected with BenriNews for updates on this developing story and its potential impact on Nigerian travelers and the broader implications for US-Nigeria relations.

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