Denial of entry into US with valid visa; Dabiri-Erewa advises Nigerians to postpone visit if not urgent.

The presidency has advised Nigerians against traveling to the United States of America because of the lack of clarity on new immigration rules expected to be signed by President Donald Trump.

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Dispora and Foreign Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made the disclosure in Abujaon Monday.

She said that Nigerians without any compelling or essential reasons to be in the US should consider delaying their trip, noting that for no reason, Nigerians with valid multiple-entry US visas were being denied entry and sent back to Nigeria in the past few weeks.

Dabiri-Erewa stated: “In the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians with valid multiple-entry US visas being denied entry and sent back to Nigeria,” she said.

“In such cases reported to the office, such affected persons were sent back immediately on the next available flight and their visas were cancelled and no reasons were given for the decision by the US immigration authorities”.

US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order on January 27 to bar people from seven, Muslim-majority countries from travelling to the United States for 90 days.

It also stopped all refugees for 120 days and Syrian refugees permanently. The ban caused global outrage, as well as chaos across the United States, before it was frozen by a legal ruling.

Dabiri-Erewa said, “In the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians with valid multiple-entry US visas being denied entry and sent back to the Nigeria.”

“In such cases reported to the office, such affected persons were sent back immediately on the next available flight and their visas were cancelled.”

Dabiri -Erewa said that “no reasons were given for the decision by the US immigration authorities.”

She said that the statement “is only to advise Nigerians without any compelling or essential reasons to visit the US to consider rescheduling their trip until there is clarity on the new immigration policy.”

She, however, reminded Nigerians in the Diaspora to abide by the rules and regulations of their host countries and be good ambassadors of the country.

END.