Trump directs Nigerians, others applying for green cards to visit home countries

The Trump administration has once again tightened the screws on immigration, with a new directive requiring Nigerians and other nationals seeking green cards to return to their home countries for the application process. This policy, framed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as a return to the "original intent" of U.S. immigration law, effectively closes a pathway that many have utilized to adjust their status while already within the United States. The move is presented as a measure to streamline the system and prevent what the administration terms "loopholes."

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We’re returning to the original intent of the law to ensure aliens navigate our nation’s immigration system properly. From now on, an alien who is in the U.S. temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.

USCIS spokesman Zach Kahler emphasized that this policy will help curb illegal immigration by deterring individuals from overstaying their visas or remaining in the country unlawfully after their applications are denied. The agency argues that by forcing applicants to process their residency requests through U.S. consular offices abroad, it reduces the incentive for people to "slip into the shadows." This approach is intended to ensure that the immigration system functions as the law originally envisioned, rather than serving as a stepping stone for those seeking to remain in the U.S. indefinitely.

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This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivising loopholes. When aliens apply from their home country, it reduces the need to find and remove those who decide to slip into the shadows and remain in the U.S. illegally after being denied residency.

This directive will particularly impact temporary visitors, including students, tourists, and workers on nonimmigrant visas, who previously might have sought to adjust their status without leaving the U.S. The administration's stance is that such individuals enter the U.S. for specific, short-term purposes and are expected to depart upon completion of their visit. By rerouting these applications abroad, USCIS also anticipates freeing up its domestic resources to concentrate on other immigration priorities, such as processing applications from victims of violent crimes and human trafficking cases, as well as naturalization requests.

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Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the U.S. for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over. Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process.