Valid visas are being revoked, and with them, the hopes of Nigerians chasing the American Dream. Suddenly, hard work is no longer enough.
The American Dream was once a promise of a better life for many global citizens, including Nigerians. Work hard, follow the rules, and you can eventually make it big. That dream was not just a fantasy. It was a goal. Parents sold family land to pay school fees, students studied late into the night, and professionals built careers, hoping that one day they would find success in the United States of America.
However, today, that dream is slipping away. The United States Embassy in Nigeria has begun quietly revoking valid visas. These are not invalid visas. They are official, issued after long applications, interviews, and background checks. Yet, people are now receiving letters informing them of their visa cancellation under U.S. law. The explanation? Only that “new information” has emerged. No details. No chance to appeal. Just a cancellation stamp and a broken dream.
This visa revocation wave is not random. Professionals, entrepreneurs, and families are being affected. Some people discovered the bad news at the airport. Others received official letters after booking flights, wasting millions of naira. A few were also allegedly detained before being sent home.
Trump’s wall is higher than the bricks
Donald Trump always promised to build walls. While the world focused on the concrete wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, another wall was built. A wall made of policies and quiet exclusions. Nigerians are now unfortunately facing this barrier.
By citing Title 22, Section 41.122 of U.S. regulations, the embassy claims the right to revoke visas if “new information” surfaces. However, this information remans unknown, and the law becomes a tool to perpetuate discrimination. It sends a clear message: Nigerians are not welcome, no matter how hard they work, no matter how clean their record.
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The human cost of silence
The most painful part of this quiet cancellation campaign is the silence. The U.S. Embassy offers no explanation, while the Nigerian government offers no protest. Families are left in shock, asking questions with no answers. Parents may miss their children’s graduation ceremonies. Patients who saved to receive medical treatment abroad will have to find other options. And professionals who planned to represent Nigeria on international stages will have to find other opportunities.
The cost is not just financial. It is emotional. It is dignity lost and a message that hard work means nothing.
America became great because it valued grit, not birthright. It opened doors to immigrants who built businesses, cities, and futures. Nigerians are among the most educated immigrant groups in the U.S., and they embody this work ethic. According to the Washington-based Migration Policy Institute, Nigerians in the U.S. are the most educated immigrant group. An impressive 61% hold at least a bachelor’s degree. That is nearly double the rate for the overall foreign-born population at 31%, and far higher than the 32% among U.S.-born citizens. Yet today, their efforts are being dismissed with a stamp.
If visas can be revoked without reason, then the rules no longer apply. In this environment, trust vanishes. For Nigerians, the American Dream is fading away.
The Nigerian government must not remain silent
This is not only America’s problem. It is Nigeria’s challenge too. A government that respects its citizens must demand answers. Why are valid visas being revoked? Why is there no process for appeal? Should America treat Nigerians, who bring talent and investment to their country, like an enemy? Diplomacy cannot be silent when citizens are humiliated. At the very least, our government must stand for the dignity of its people.
