The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a warning to Nigerian travelers, stating that overstaying a U.S. visa could result in a permanent travel ban and criminal prosecution.
In a statement released on Monday, the mission emphasized that excuses such as “honest mistakes” are not acceptable.
“If you overstay your U.S. visa, you could face a permanent ban on travel to the United States as well as criminal prosecution. Consular officers have full access to your immigration history and will know about past violations. There is no such thing as an ‘honest mistake’,” the statement read.
The mission further stressed that it is the responsibility of individuals to comply with visa regulations and ensure they do not exceed their permitted stay.
Trump’s Crackdown on Immigration
The warning comes as Donald Trump, who assumed office for his second term on January 20, 2025, intensifies efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Trump has vowed mass deportation of “criminal aliens” and has already implemented widespread immigration raids.
Reports indicate that undocumented immigrants from countries like Nigeria, India, and Guatemala have been targeted in these mass deportations, with raids conducted at homes, schools, workplaces, and shopping centers.
Thousands at Risk of Deportation
Last Friday, the U.S. government announced the termination of legal status for over 532,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks. This decision primarily affects Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, who had entered under a scheme launched by former President Joe Biden in October 2022.
According to official records, around 376,000 Nigerians were residing in the United States as of 2015, making Nigeria the largest source of African immigrants in the U.S.
The United States remains a top destination for migrating Nigerian youths and middle-class professionals seeking better opportunities. Nigerians in the U.S. contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy, remitting over $20 billion annually, according to World Bank data from 2023.
