Nigeria exempted from US Green Card review: What it means for Nigerians abroad

The United States has announced a reexamination of all Green Cards issued to nationals from 19 countries of concern, following heightened security measures after the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC.

Nigeria, however, has been exempted from this review.

What’s happening?

Joe Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), confirmed on X that, “At the direction of @POTUS, I have directed a full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”

The 19 countries identified include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Citizens from these nations will undergo stricter vetting, including reviews of “negative, country-specific factors,” such as the ability to issue secure identity documents.

Why Nigeria is spared

Although Nigeria was recently classified as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the Trump administration, it will not be affected by this new directive. This exemption offers relief and reassurance for Nigerian Green Card holders, who can continue their residency status without the worry of additional scrutiny.

The broader context

The US administration intensified its immigration review following the identification of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, as the suspect in the Washington shooting. Lakanwal, who previously worked with the US government including the CIA, arrived in the US in 2021 through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome and was granted asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also announced a temporary halt on all immigration requests from Afghan nationals and a review of asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, citing concerns about security and vetting protocols.

What this means for Nigerians

For Nigerian Green Card holders, the exemption ensures continuity of their status and shields them from the intensified reexamination process affecting other countries. This signals a measure of confidence in Nigeria’s documentation and vetting processes.