US moves against potential irregular immigrants from Nigeria, others

The US government has issued a subtle warning to would-be irregular migrants from Africa.

By Chike Olisah

The United States government has issued a subtle warning to would-be irregular migrants from Nigeria and other African countries, who may be drawing inspiration from the crisis at the country’s southern border.

The warning is coming as the Joe Biden administration prioritises responsible and safe migration practices with no exceptions, whether you are in the Northern Triangle, Central America or Africa.

This warning was given by the Deputy Spokesperson to the US Department of State, Ms. Jalina Porter, on Friday, saying that anyone seeking to enter the US should do so through “legal pathways.”

Porter, while responding to a question on whether there would be a consideration for asylum seekers from Africa in President Joe Biden administration’s proposed immigration reforms, said, “The Biden administration certainly prioritises responsible and safe migration practices, and this doesn’t preclude anyone, whether you’re in the Northern Triangle or Central America or whether you are from Africa.

“So, we say to those in Africa who are looking at what’s going on along the border that the border is and always has been closed to irregular migration. Anyone seeking to come to the U.S. should seek to do so via legal pathways,” she told reporters at a news briefing.

What you should know

• The Biden administration is currently grappling with an influx of illegal migrants, mostly from Mexico, at the southern border with reports suggesting that an average of 5,000 unauthorised migrants are crossing into the country through that route daily, posing a huge logistics and humanitarian challenge to the new administration.
• US authorities are reportedly allowing about half of the migrants to stay in the country and seek asylum.
• It can be recalled that upon being sworn into office, Joe Biden revoked his predecessor, Donald Trump’s order that blocked many green card applicants from entering the United States.
• Biden reversed Trump’s proclamation limiting the number of new work visas for temporary foreign workers in the US amid the coronavirus pandemic.