US Congress Opposes Visa Restrictions on Nigeria, Others

Ololade Adeyanju/

The US House of Representatives has faulted President Donald Trump over Friday’s the introduction of immigrant visa ban against Nigeria and five other countries.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that the new policy smacked of discrimination and undermined the US global leadership, constitution and heritage.

The House, according to her would soon establish a “no ban act” against the immigrant visa ban which also targets nationals of Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania and Sudan.

A statement by Pelosi reads, “The Trump Administration’s expansion of its outrageous, un-American travel ban threatens our security, our values and the rule of law.  The sweeping rule, barring more than 350 million individuals from predominantly African nations from traveling to the United States, is discrimination disguised as policy.

“America’s strength has always been as a beacon of hope and opportunity for people around the world, whose dreams and aspirations have enriched our nation and made America more American.  With this latest callous decision, the President has doubled down on his cruelty and further undermined our global leadership, our Constitution and our proud heritage as a nation of immigrants.

“In the Congress and in the Courts, House Democrats will continue to oppose the Administration’s dangerous anti-immigrant agenda.  In the coming weeks, the House Judiciary Committee will mark-up and bring to the Floor the NO BAN Act to prohibit religious discrimination in our immigration system and limit the President’s ability to impose such biased and bigoted restrictions.  We will never allow hatred or bigotry to define our nation or destroy our values.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has set up a committee headed by Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola to study and address the travel restriction against Nigerians.

Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said in a statement that the committee would work with the US authorities, INTERPOL and other stakeholders to ensure the proper implementation of the decision.

The statement also clarifies that the diplomatic decision, which was taken against Nigeria and five other nations, only applies to the issuance of immigrant visas, while that other categories of visa are not affected.

The statement reads, “On 31st January 2020, the United States (U.S) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced temporary travel restrictions on six (6) countries including Nigeria.

“For Nigeria, the restriction is the suspension of the issuance of ‘immigrant visas’ to Nigerian passport holders only. This suspension shall come into effect on 21st February 2020. The suspension does not apply to other U.S visas such as those for official, business, tourism and student travel.

“The DHS states the suspension of ‘immigrant visas’ became necessary following a review and update of the methodology (performance metrics) adopted by the U.S Government to assess compliance of certain security criteria by foreign governments. This resulted in certain enhancements on how information is shared between Nigeria and the U.S.

“Nigeria remains committed to maintaining productive relations with the United States and its international allies especially on matters of global security.

“Accordingly, President Muhammadu Buhari has established a committee, to be chaired by the Minister of Interior, to study and address the updated U.S. requirements.

“The committee will work with the U.S Government, INTERPOL and other stakeholders to ensure all updates are properly implemented.”

Giving reasons for the travel ban, the US government said Nigeria did not comply with the established identity-management and information-sharing criteria assessed by the performance metrics.

It also said  Nigeria did not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information necessary for the protection of the national security and public safety of the US.

The full report of the visa restrictions titled, ‘Proclamation on improving enhanced vetting capabilities and process’ posted in www.whitehouse.gov read in part, “Nigeria also presents a high risk, relative to other countries in the world, of terrorist travel to the United States. Nigeria is an important strategic partner in the global fight against terrorism, and the United States continues to engage with Nigeria on these and other issues.

“The Department of State has provided significant assistance to Nigeria as it modernises its border management capabilities, and the Government of Nigeria recognises the importance of improving its information sharing with the United States.

“Nevertheless, these investments have not yet resulted in sufficient improvements in Nigeria’s information sharing with the United States for border and immigration screening and vetting.”

Nigeria is the only country in West Africa sanctioned by the US Department of Home Security following a review and update of the methodology.

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