Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the United States, and former Presidential Candidate, Peoples’ Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar have frowned at the travel ban placed on Nigerian citizens by the US government.
Pelosi condemned the decision made by President Donald Trump to include Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar on the travel ban list. According to her, such list contravenes the American values and poses threat to the US’ security as well as the rule of law in the US.
She reacted to the travel ban list, which Nairametrics had earlier reported, through her Twitter handle, stating that, “The Trump Admin’s expansion of its un-American travel ban is a threat to our security, our values and the rule of law.
“Barring more than 350 million people from predominantly African countries from travelling to the US, this rule is discrimination disguised as policy.”
Pelosi to move against ban list: Pelosi, who is a member of the Democrats Party (opposition party to Trump’s Republican party), said the House would move against the ban list, which has been termed as religious discrimination because it targets countries with large Muslim population.
In her tweet, Pelosi stated that, “In the coming weeks, the House will bring the NO BAN Act to the Floor to prohibit religious discrimination in our immigration system and limit the President’s ability to impose such biased and bigoted restrictions.”
The Trump Admin’s expansion of its un-American travel ban is a threat to our security, our values and the rule of law. Barring more than 350 million people from predominantly African countries from traveling to the US, this rule is discrimination disguised as policy.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 1, 2020
Is Trump punishing Nigerians because of Buhari? The former Presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned President Trump against punishing Nigerians for the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari.
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Note that reasons for the travel ban list were due to the failure of Nigeria and other banned countries to meet the security and information-sharing standard of the US. Also, while the ban on visas stops immigration of Nigerians to the US, it doesn’t stop the government officials from travelling to the US.
Reacting to the travel ban list, Atiku wrote on Twitter, “While I understand the reasons given by the Trump administration (the failure of the @MBuhari led administration to share information and to address issues of terrorism), the ban does not take into account the pro-American sentiments of the Nigerian public.
“…and the solidarity previous Nigerian administrations have had with the United States. I urge the government of President @realDonaldTrump to consider the history of US-Nigerian relationships.”
Atiku added in another tweet that, “Nigerians love the United States and have been a major force for the positive development of that great nation: 77% of all Black doctors in the United States are Nigerians. Nigerians are also the most educated immigrant community in America bar none.”
Target government, not Nigerians: With the impact Nigerians play in war-coalition with the US and the development of US, Atiku said Nigerians should not be targeted, rather, the ban should be placed on government tor failing to perform their duties.
“The current Nigerian administration may have its deficiencies and deep faults, but the Nigeria people ought not to be punished for their inefficiencies.
“Once again, I call on President @realDonaldTrump to consider adopting measures that individually target those in government who have failed in their duties, rather than target the entire Nigerian population,” Atiku suggested in his Tweet.
I received with sadness the policy of the government of the United States of America to place @Nigeria on its travel ban list.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) February 1, 2020
However, the Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina, has reacted to the development. It described the move as a temporary restriction placed on Nigeria and five others by the US’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which will be effected on 21st February 2020. According to Adesina, the suspension does not apply to other U.S visas such as those for official, business, tourism and student travel.
He said, “The DHS states the suspension of “immigrant visas” became necessary following a review and update of the methodology (performance metrics) adopted by the U.S Government to assess compliance of certain security criteria by foreign governments.
“Nigeria remains committed to maintaining productive relations with the United States and its international allies especially on matters of global security. Accordingly, President Muhammadu Buhari has established a committee, to be chaired by the Hon. Minister of Interior, to study and address the updated U.S. requirements. The committee will work with the U.S Government, INTERPOL and other stakeholders to ensure all updates are properly implemented.”
Background: The ban on Nigeria comes two years after Nigeria received twice as many immigration visas from the United States compared to other countries that also made the list – Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar. Over 8,000 immigration visas were given to Nigerians, while 2,000 were issued to Sudanese nationals, 290 to Tanzanians, and just 31 to Eritreans.
Why the US banned Nigeria, others: The list is made up of countries that failed to meet US security and information-sharing standards.
According to the acting Homeland Security Secretary, Chad Wolf, “These countries, for the most part, want to be helpful but for a variety of different reasons simply failed to meet those minimum requirements that we laid out.” Nairametrics had earlier reported the planned ban.
The ban blocks these countries from obtaining certain types of visas including immigration. This rule out the issuance of visas that can lead to permanent residency for citizens of the listed countries. The travel ban list was first introduced by President Trump in 2017 but it affects countries with Muslim majorities mostly.
Nigeria and Eritrea’s population account for 50% of Muslims while Kyrgyzstan and Sudan have large Muslim majorities, and Tanzania also has a sizable Muslim community. Although in 2017, President Trump also restricted citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and North Korea.
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The ban won’t affect non-immigrant visas given to people for temporary stays, including visitors, those doing business or people seeking medical treatment – would not be impacted by the new rules. Also, students are exempted as well as those with “significant contacts” in the US.
Our leaders and aspiring leaders are so pitifully slavish in their mentality and actions. How can they be literary begging the US to open its doors to Nigerians, when they should be busy working to fix the economy and security situation. If our leaders, both past and present had done their jobs well, people wouldn’t be so desperate to immigrate to the US for better quality lives. This should be a wake up call for our leaders to rise up to the occasion and invest every effort and resources to truly improve the economic situation of Nigerians, but rather they are scampering about looking for how to please America, instead of looking to please Nigerians.
I’m an American and though I don’t like much of anything that President Trump introduces, I’m all fie this ban. Many foreigners, including Nigerians, believe they have some devine right to an American dream though they had very little to do with the shaping and development of our country. I doubt if Nigerians would like Americans immigrating there with similar beliefs to some unnatural right. Population experts say that Nigeria’s population will be greater than the US by 2047. Do you think we want you people over here? No, we don’t.