The United States government has temporarily suspended the processing of legal immigration and citizenship applications filed by Nigerians and nationals of several other countries newly added to an expanded US travel ban.

According to reports by CBS News, the suspension affects applications handled by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including requests for American citizenship, permanent residency, and changes in immigration status. Many of those impacted are legal immigrants already living in the United States.

The move follows a directive earlier this month by the Trump administration ordering USCIS to freeze immigration petitions from nationals of countries listed under the June travel ban. The decision was reportedly taken in the aftermath of a Thanksgiving week shooting in Washington, D.C., in which two National Guard soldiers were killed. The attack was allegedly carried out by an Afghan national.

In addition to halting immigration petitions, the administration also suspended decisions on asylum cases processed by USCIS and stopped the processing of all immigration and visa requests by Afghans.

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump expanded the travel ban to include 20 additional countries, fully barring immigrants and travellers from five nations and partially restricting entry from 15 others. Countries facing a full ban include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria.

Nigeria is among the countries placed under partial restrictions, alongside Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Gabon, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Tonga.

A US official, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity, confirmed that USCIS has extended its suspension of immigration case processing to cover nationals of the newly added countries.

In a statement shared on social media, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow hinted at the expanded restrictions, saying the agency was conducting a “comprehensive review of anyone from anywhere who poses a threat to the US, including those identified in the President’s latest proclamation.”

Altogether, the expanded travel ban now affects nationals of more than 60 per cent of African countries and about 20 per cent of countries worldwide.

While the US government insists the measures are necessary to strengthen national security and improve vetting processes, the decision has sparked widespread criticism, particularly in Nigeria. Many Nigerians have described the move as discriminatory and exaggerated, warning that it could strain diplomatic relations and negatively impact economic ties.

Reacting to the development, former senator Shehu Sani described the ban as “a clear signal that migrants from developing countries are no longer welcome.”