The administration of President Donald Trump on Wednesday rolled out a new visa-restriction policy aimed at individuals and groups deemed responsible for orchestrating severe violations of religious freedom, particularly citing a recent wave of attacks targeting Christians in Nigeria.
The measure, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, allows the U.S. State Department to deny visas to those who have "directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom," according to an official statement.
Secretary Rubio emphasised that the decisive action was a direct response to "mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond."
The new policy implements authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act and, in some cases, can be extended to the immediate family members of those implicated.
The announcement comes weeks after President Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, a classification reserved for nations that engage in or tolerate "particularly severe violations" of religious freedom.
"The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries,” Secretary Rubio said, echoing a warning previously made by the President.
The new visa policy is an immediate, targeted measure that bypasses the comprehensive sanctions typically associated with a CPC designation, which can take longer to implement.
By utilising a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act, the State Department can swiftly use visa denials as a tool for diplomatic pressure. The scope of the policy explicitly extends beyond Nigeria to encompass any individuals globally responsible for religious freedom violations.
