Immigrants from Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and Nigeria will be banned from the US. Tanzanian and Sudan citizens will no longer be able to apply for the “diversity visas,” known as the green card lottery, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
A Nigerian civil group has started a petition to revoke the ban, saying it will affect families.
The US administration has defended the expanded travel ban, saying it is important for national security and that some of these countries have simply not met US security standards.
The extended ban does not affect tourism, business and student travel but it could have an impact on US citizens who want to be reunited with family members living in the affected countries.
Some Nigerians balked at being included on a list of “pariah states,” such as Myanmar and Eritrea.
Desmond Okocha, from Lagos, told CNN: “Everybody should have freedom of movement, I don’t see any reason for doing that.”
While HopeĀ Ilavbare said: “That’s absurd, it shouldn’t fly! We should be allowed to go into the United States.”
However, one woman told CNN she thought the ban was justified and would encourage Nigerians to stay at home and build their country.
Caroline Eboh told CNN, “If they feel we Nigerians are flooding their country then we should stay in our country. I don’t know what we’re going there to do anyways. I don’t have any problem with it.”
Other Nigerians blame President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies for lowering the country’s standing in the world.
President Buhari’s administration has responded by setting up a committee to work with the US government and Interpol to ensure Nigeria complies with global security standards.
“Nigeria remains committed to maintaining productive relations with the United States and its international allies, especially on matters of global security,” spokesman Femi Adesina said in a statement.
The previous travel ban has been called the “Muslim ban” by the US President’s critics but this new ban has been branded the “African ban,” as four of the countries are African and has prompted accusations of discrimination and racism.
Source: CNN Africa