Nigeria reportedly ranks among the top countries where citizens seek birthright citizenship for their children in the U.S.
The United States government has issued a stern warning to Nigerian citizens regarding birthright citizenship, declaring that using visitor visas primarily to secure American citizenship for newborns constitutes visa fraud. The warning comes as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on what officials term “birth tourism.”
The U.S. Department of State has made it clear that Nigerians caught exploiting visitor visas for birthright purposes face automatic entry denial and permanent visa ineligibility. This development significantly impacts Nigeria, which ranks among nations with the highest number of citizens seeking U.S. birthright citizenship for their children.
Under the 14th Amendment, any child born on American soil automatically receives U.S. citizenship regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
However, President Trump has signed an executive order challenging this constitutional provision, insisting that at least one parent must be a citizen or legal resident for their child to gain citizenship.
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Trump Administration Announces New Visa Rules For Nigerians
U.S. consular officials now have strict directives to scrutinize Nigerian visa applicants’ travel intentions. Any suspicion of exploiting birthright citizenship provisions will result in immediate visa rejection.
“Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted,” warned the U.S. Mission Nigeria on social media. “Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent.”
The restrictions extend beyond birth tourism. The Trump administration has implemented sweeping changes to Nigerian visa policies, replacing the previous five-year multiple-entry visas with restrictive single-entry visas valid for only three months.
These measures form part of broader immigration controls affecting citizens from 12 countries, with seven being African nations. The directive particularly targets non-immigrant and non-diplomat travel categories, significantly limiting Nigerian mobility to the United States.
The policy shift represents a dramatic departure from previous U.S.-Nigeria relations and signals stricter enforcement of immigration laws under the current administration. Nigerian travelers must now demonstrate compelling reasons for their visits while facing heightened scrutiny from American consular officials.