Japa In Danger As US Cancels About 80,000 Non-Immigrant Visas
A sweeping policy shift from Donald Trump’s administration is reshaping how non-immigrant visas are managed, emphasising not just traditional immigration controls but also serious criminal misconduct by visa-holders.
The United States Department of State has annulled about 80,000 non-immigrant visas held by Nigerians and other foreign nationals since 20 January 2025, the department confirmed.
Officials disclosed that among the revocations, roughly 16,000 were due to driving under the influence (DUI), 12,000 involved assault, and 8,000 were linked to theft, these three categories alone representing nearly half of the total cancellations.
Describing the action as delivery on a promise, the department quoted the administration’s mantra of “promises made, promises kept” in defending the cancellations.
The wider rationale includes links to terrorism, public-safety threats, overstaying visa terms and other serious infractions, officials said.
For many Nigerians and other foreign-nationals, the policy shift has triggered urgent concern. Professionals, students and families who had legitimate visas now face sudden cancellations, sometimes only at boarding gates, without prior warning or clear recourse.
Diplomatic tension is simmering: with Nigeria’s travellers and institutions demanding explanations, the policy is being viewed as tougher and less transparent than previous practices.
This clearly shows that travel and academic plans for thousands of Nigerians are now uncertain, with some caught up in broad enforcement rather than case-by-case justification.
The U.S. visa regime is signalling stricter consequences for offences abroad (or after visa issuance) and for activities that may fall outside traditional immigration violations.
Diplomatic relations could be affected if Nigerians feel unfairly targeted or left without explanation.
The U.S. has marked a clear pivot, entry is a privilege, not a right, and the consequences of misuse or misconduct are far broader than before. Nigerians and other foreign nationals with U.S. visas are now facing heightened scrutiny.
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