Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has called on Nigerians and other Africans whose United States visas have been revoked to return home promptly to avoid being arrested by U.S. immigration authorities. He highlighted that no matter how long one resides abroad, they will always be regarded as outsiders.
In a statement posted on his social media, Shehu Sani warned, “Nigerians and other thousands of Africans whose visas were recently revoked by President Trump should hasten and leave the country and return home before they get arrested by ICE.” Adding a poignant reminder, he said, “No matter how long you live in the comfort of your adopted home, you will someday be reminded that it’s not your father’s house.”
This advisory comes in the context of a widespread visa revocation campaign by the U.S. State Department, which announced having cancelled over 80,000 visas since January 2025 under the Trump administration, more than double the number revoked the previous year. The cancellations reportedly target individuals for reasons including driving under the influence, assault-related offences, criminal conduct, public safety risks, visa overstays, terrorism links, and more. Specifically, 16,000 visas related to DUI, 12,000 linked to assault, and 8,000 student visas have been revoked.
Furthermore, the U.S. government has tightened visa regulations, such as requiring all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas to make their social media accounts public and shortening visa validity periods for Nigerians.Shehu Sani’s message serves both as a warning and a call for Nigerians caught in the tightening visa enforcement to return home safely before facing possible detention by U.S. authorities.
