What’s US Visa Ban and how does it affect Nigerian politicians on the list? A Neusroom Explainer
On Monday, May 15, 2023, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States of America has imposed visa restrictions on some Nigerians who undermined democratic process during the country’s 2023 general elections.
While the announcement did not provide details of the individuals affected, some Nigerians who believe that the 2023 elections were marred with violence, voter intimidation, and results manipulation appear to welcome the announcement with the belief that it will strengthen Nigerian election process and deter politicians from participating in election malpractice in the future.
But how is a US visa ban issued, and what are the implications on individuals?
How a US Visa Ban Works
A US visa ban, also known as visa restrictions or sanctions, is a measure employed by the US government to restrict entry into the United States for individuals who are deemed to have engaged in activities contrary to American interests or values. These restrictions can be imposed based on various reasons, including human rights violations, corruption, terrorism, or, in this case, election malpractice.
According to Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of the United States of America, reasons for denying a visa to aliens can range from human rights violations, corruption, terrorism, and other activities that the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe is inconsistent with the interests of the United States.
The law says:
(c) Grounds for Inadmissibility – In addition to the grounds of inadmissibility specified in paragraphs (1) through (29) of subsection (a) of this section, the following are grounds for inadmissibility:
(3) Any alien who the Secretary of State finds, after consultation with the Attorney General, has engaged in any activity that the Secretary has reasonable grounds to believe—
(A) endangers the security of the United States;
(B) threatens the foreign policy interests of the United States;
(C) undermines the national security of the United States;
(D) violates the law of nations or a treaty of the United States; or
(E) has engaged in any other activity that the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe is inconsistent with the interests of the United States.
Implications of the Visa Ban for Affected Nigerians
The United States does not release the names of those who have been issued visa bans. In some cases, the names of those who have been banned may be released in order to deter others from engaging in similar activities. However, in other cases, the names of those who have been banned may be kept confidential in order to protect their privacy or to avoid retaliation. Many believe that some high-ranking officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some politicians might have been affected by the ban.
In 2019, after President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected, the United States also issued visa bans on Nigerians who they claimed were indicted for undermining the democratic process of Nigeria.
While the statement by Blinken did not mention the nature and details of the ban, when the US imposes visa restrictions on individuals, it means that they are ineligible to obtain a visa to travel to the United States for a specific period. In some cases, the ban may also extend to immediate family members.
It remains unclear if the visa ban, which failed to release the names of individuals affected, will deter others from partaking in election malpractice and violence. However, it is expected that this restriction can disrupt planned visits for official, personal, or educational purposes, affecting their ability to engage in international affairs, attend conferences, or visit family and friends residing in the US of those affected by the ban.
In 2020 when the US announced visa ban on politicians for sponsoring violence in the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections, the Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State described the ban as unacceptable. Although his name was not mentioned, many Nigerians believe he was one of those affected due to his second term election marred by violence.
