The United States under has intensified its immigration crackdown, with the administration announcing that more than three million undocumented immigrants have been removed from the country since President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
The latest figures have raised concerns among foreigners hoping to travel, study, work or settle in America, as the administration combines mass deportations with tougher visa screening and stricter scrutiny of immigration status.
According to the US government, more than three million illegal immigrants have been deported, including thousands of people convicted of violent crimes.
The administration also claimed that no illegal immigrants had been released into the US interior for 15 consecutive months.
The sweeping enforcement campaign goes beyond deportations, with Washington tightening several aspects of its immigration system.
The US State Department has introduced tougher measures affecting visa processing, including restrictions targeting nationals of dozens of countries considered to pose heightened risks.
The administration said the measures are aimed at strengthening national security, preventing visa overstays and improving background checks.
The tougher approach has also extended to citizenship applications.
The administration said 88 people had so far become subjects of legal action after authorities determined that they were allegedly not entitled to US citizenship.
The move forms part of an expanded denaturalisation campaign targeting individuals accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud or other improper means.
Changes have also been made to the US citizenship examination, with applicants now facing greater scrutiny of their knowledge of American history, government and national values.
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Meanwhile, the Trump administration has moved to cut off public benefits from people it identifies as being in the country illegally.
The government claimed that more than 1.4 million illegal immigrants had been removed from taxpayer-funded assistance and excluded from more than 12 government-funded healthcare programmes.
Voter registration has also come under scrutiny, with authorities in several states removing tens of thousands of people described as illegal immigrants from voter rolls.
The administration has maintained that only American citizens are legally entitled to participate in US elections.
Even foreigners who already hold American visas are facing increased scrutiny.
The State Department has reportedly cancelled more than 175,000 visas since Trump returned to office, with criminal activity, immigration violations and national-security concerns among the reasons cited. Some cases have also involved political expression.
The development serves as a warning to visa holders who may assume that having an approved US visa guarantees continued access to the country.
For Nigerians planning to travel to the United States, the latest crackdown is another reminder that strict compliance with immigration rules is essential.
Travellers are expected to obey the conditions attached to their visas, avoid overstaying and ensure that their activities in the US match the purpose for which their visas were issued.
Immigration fraud, criminal conduct or violations of visa conditions can lead to visa cancellation, deportation and difficulties securing future permission to enter the country.
With immigration enforcement remaining one of Trump’s major policy priorities, the message from Washington is increasingly unmistakable: obtaining a US visa may open the door, but keeping it open will require strict compliance with the rules.
For millions of foreigners dreaming of America, the new reality could be summed up simply, getting the visa may only be the beginning; staying legally may be the bigger challenge.
