For millions of Nigerians living in the United States, the holiday season, known back home as “Deti December,” has always been a time to reunite with family, host lively reunions, and soak up the energy of nightlife in Lagos and Abuja. But this year, a cloud of anxiety has hung over the diaspora community as major changes in U.S. immigration policy have altered travel plans and cast dark clouds over what should have been a celebratory season.
The unrest was triggered by a new directive from President Donald Trump’s administration, effective January 1, 2026, that would partially suspend the issuance of nonimmigrant visas to 19 countries, primarily Nigeria. According to BusinessDay, the policy specifically targets B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M, and J student visas and exchange visas. These visas have long served as a lifeline for family visits, academic activities, and professional exchanges.
The White House has characterized the move as a necessary response to national security and visa overstays, but the timing and scope of the policy has upset many Nigerians abroad. Thousands of people abruptly canceled their travel plans for the 2025 holiday season, fearing that if they returned home they would be locked out of the United States that many call home.
“Travelling to Nigeria at this time could jeopardize my entire political future,” Dr. Juliet Agocha, a Nigerian politician running for local elections in Prince George’s County, said in an interview with Business Day. “Thousands of us are caught in this web of uncertainty. For many, the risk of being locked out of the country where they have built their lives and careers is too great to ignore.”
The ripple effects are particularly noticeable in academia. Reports of “campus-wide panic” are surfacing as doctoral candidates and undergraduate students face the reality that every trip home is now a high-stakes gamble. “Students are calling home in tears and explaining to their parents why they won’t be sitting down to dinner this Christmas,” said a doctoral student at Indiana University, according to Business Day. “There is a terrible fear that if we leave here, our return will be interpreted through a new, harsher lens and our academic journey could be cut short. For many of us, it could undo years of work.”
Even those with valid visas or green cards are not immune. A businessman from Osun State narrated the ordeal his family went through. “I canceled my trip because a close family member of a frequent traveler and green card holder was detained upon arrival in Houston,” the statement said. “No Nigerian is truly safe under this government when even permanent residents are being detained and interrogated. I refuse to spend millions on airfare only to be treated like a criminal at a port of entry.”
The economic impact of these travel restrictions could be surprising. Analysts estimate that Nigeria could lose between $3 billion and $4 billion in remittances and economic activity if the barrier continues. These funds are essential not only for families, but also for the country’s economy as a whole. The impact on education has been equally severe, with some US universities already postponing admission offers to Nigerian applicants until 2027, according to Business Day.
This uncertainty has triggered a strategic shift among Nigerian students and professionals, who are now turning to more predictable destinations. Blessing George, an education consultant at Be Voyage Travels and Tours in Lagos, called the policy “unfortunate”, noting that it was causing a significant shift in interest in Britain and Canada. Foreign policy analyst Charles Onunaiju echoed this sentiment, telling Business Day: “The US is no longer the reliable partner it once was for talent. We are seeing a major shift towards the UK and Canada. Nigeria needs to diversify its diplomacy. We cannot continue to rely on a single corridor that has become so volatile and unpredictable.”
But while the Trump administration is tightening the reins on most legal immigrants, it is also rolling out the red carpet for the world’s wealthy. According to Business Insider, the government officially launched the “Gold Card” visa program in early December. The controversial initiative allows wealthy foreigners to obtain U.S. residency by paying $1 million plus fees of at least $15,000. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced at a recent event that the program has already raised $1.3 billion since its inception.
The Gold Card program allows individuals to receive green card status in “record time” by paying the required fees, passing a background check, and contributing $1 million to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Spouses and children can also be included on the application, but each additional person will require an additional $1 million plus $15,000 in fees. There’s also a “Corporate Gold Card” option, which allows companies to sponsor a permanent employee with a $2 million gift or transfer the card to another employee for a fee.
Qualified Gold Card holders will be granted an EB-1 or EB-2 visa. This visa category has traditionally been granted to people with exceptional ability or advanced degrees. The administration has also hinted at an upcoming “Platinum Card” program, which would allow foreign nationals to pay $5 million to obtain a visa that would allow them to stay in the United States for 270 days without paying U.S. taxes on their non-U.S. income. However, Business Insider reports that the program is still in the planning stages and has not yet launched.
The stark contrast between the government’s embrace of wealthy investors and its crackdown on other visa categories has not gone unnoticed. According to Business Insider, the Trump administration recently imposed a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled workers. The move initially caused confusion and confusion among major technology companies, the company said. Social media screening requirements for visa holders are more complex, and some companies have warned employees against traveling abroad. Just last week, the government also suspended the DV1 diversity visa lottery program, a long-standing route for immigrants from underrepresented countries.
This dual-track approach to immigration, which welcomes the wealthy while restricting students, professionals and families, has drawn harsh criticism from advocates and analysts alike. While the United States is not alone in offering residency-by-investment programs (countries such as Thailand, Panama, Portugal and Greece also have similar programs), the timing and idea of the gold card’s introduction against a backdrop of widespread restrictions has fueled feelings of unfairness and exclusion among many immigrants.
As the January 1, 2026 deadline approaches, Deti December celebrations continue in Nigerian cities, but the mood has subsided. For thousands of separated families, an empty chair at the Christmas table is a stark reminder of the barriers that separate them from their loved ones. The new policies are not only disrupting travel plans, but upending dreams, straining family ties, and forcing painful reflection on America’s changing reality.
In a season meant for joy and unity, many Nigerians abroad are left feeling anxious, wary and unanswered questions about what the future holds.
