US Enforces New Visa Restrictions Over Religious-Freedom Violations in Nigeria

The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting people found to be involved in religious-freedom violations in Nigeria, a move that could also extend to their immediate family members.

In a statement released Wednesday under the title Combating Egregious Anti-Christian Violence in Nigeria and Globally, the State Department said the measure responds to ongoing attacks and mass killings of Christians carried out by radical Islamist groups, Fulani militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and elsewhere.

According to the announcement, a policy grounded in Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act now authorizes officials to deny visas to individuals who have directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in, or committed acts infringing on religious freedom, along with family members when necessary.

The statement cited President Trump’s position that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries,” adding that the policy applies to Nigeria as well as any other governments or individuals implicated in such violations.