The United States has begun enforcing visa restrictions on individuals involved in religious persecution, warning that offenders will be barred from entering the country.
The policy implementation was confirmed by Mark Walker, Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom, in a statement shared on Friday.
“In December, Secretary Rubio announced that the State Department will restrict US visas for those who have directed, authorised, funded, significantly supported, or carried out violations of religious freedom,” he said.
“We have already executed this policy and will continue to subject perpetrators to additional scrutiny. If you engage in persecution, you are not welcome in America.”
The measure follows an earlier announcement by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, targeting individuals linked to violations of religious freedom.
Policy framework
The policy is anchored on Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which empowers authorities to deny visas on security and foreign policy grounds.
It also allows the extension of restrictions to immediate family members of affected individuals where necessary.
Nigeria in focus
The US specifically identified Nigeria among countries of concern, noting that the restrictions could apply to government officials or individuals implicated in religious rights violations.
The move follows growing international attention on religious violence in Nigeria, particularly attacks affecting Christian communities.
Background developments
The policy gained traction after a briefing by US lawmakers, convened under Donald Trump, which highlighted rising religious violence in Nigeria.
At the hearing, concerns were raised over the scale of killings, with calls for stronger US action against perpetrators.
On November 20, 2025, the US House Subcommittee on Africa also held a public hearing to review Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern, a classification that could lead to sanctions against officials found complicit in abuses.
The enforcement of the visa ban signals a tougher US stance on global religious freedom violations and could strain diplomatic relations with countries under scrutiny, including Nigeria, while increasing pressure for accountability.
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