A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has described as a welcome development the move by President Donald Trump of the United States of America to stop third-world countries from relocating to the country.
Trump had recently declared that his administration will “permanently pause” immigration from all so-called Third World countries, including Nigeria. He made the announcement in a statement posted on his Truth Social account late on Thanksgiving Day.
Trump said the move is intended to allow the U.S. immigration system to “recover” while reversing what he described as “millions of Joe Biden illegal admissions.” He also vowed to remove anyone living in the U.S. who is not a “net asset” or is “incapable of loving” the country.
According to data cited from the World Population Review, more than 60 nations across Africa, Asia and the Pacific—including Nigeria—fall under the category of Third World countries based on human capital ranking.
In a post on X, Shehu Sani hailed the move, adding that immigrants should stay in their countries and develop them.
“President Trump’s decision to stop Nigerians and citizens of other third World countries from relocating to the US is a welcome development,” he wrote.
“The immigrants should stay back in their country and solve their problems or learn to live with it. Better to stay back than to be chased, hunted and deported by ICE.”
In a related development, the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services said on Thursday that he has ordered a review of all green cards previously issued to individuals from countries considered “of concern,” in line with Trump’s directive.