Stay away from America, US warns religious fanatics

The United States Government has confirmed the enforcement of visa restrictions against individuals found to have violated religious freedom, warning that perpetrators of religious persecution will be barred from entering the country.

The United States Principal Advisor for Global Religious Freedom, Mark Walker, disclosed this in a post on X on Friday.

He recalled that in the last month of 2025, the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced plans to restrict those found to have links to violations of religious freedom.

“In December, Secretary Rubio announced that the State Department will restrict US visas for those who have directed, authorised, funded, significantly supported, or carried out violations of religious freedom.

“We have already executed on this policy, and we will continue to subject perpetrators to additional scrutiny.

“If you engage in persecution, you are not welcome in America. The United States is safer when we keep those responsible for religious persecution from entering our homeland,” Walker said.

The policy is grounded in Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and allows the State Department to extend restrictions to the immediate family members of affected individuals where appropriate.

Walker also shared a link on X referencing a statement published by the United States Department of State outlining the policy.

“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond.

“A new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act will allow the State Department to restrict visa issuance to individuals who have directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom and, where appropriate, their immediate family members,” the US State Department website posted.

It further wrote, “As President Trump made clear, the United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria, and numerous other countries.”

This policy will apply to Nigeria and any other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.”

Walker’s post was in response to a statement on X by a US lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C, which criticised the Nigerian government’s handling of insecurity.

The post read, “The United States will not stand by while innocent Nigerians, Christians and Muslims alike, are slaughtered by terrorists as the current Nigerian government remains idle. That same government now appears to be attempting to circumvent the electoral will of the Nigerian people. It has, through its inaction, demonstrated complicity.

“Under the leadership of President DonaldTrump, those responsible for the murder of Nigerians will be held accountable. Likewise, any officials within the current government who enable such violence, or who seek to undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s presidential election, will also be held to account.”

Earlier, Nigeria had been named by the US government among countries of concern, with Marco Rubio stating that the restrictions could be applied to “Nigeria and any other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.”

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the United States Mission in Nigeria shut down visa appointment services at its embassy in Abuja following the authorisation for non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Nigeria over worsening security concerns.

In a notice posted on X on Thursday, April 9, 2026, the mission stated: “U.S. Embassy Abuja is closed for visa appointments. Applicants should check their email for details on rescheduled appointments.

“Visa operations at the U.S. Consulate General Lagos continue. American citizen services are available in emergencies and by appointment.”

The development came barely 24 hours after the US government authorised the departure of non-essential staff from its Abuja embassy, citing what it described as a deteriorating security situation across Nigeria.

The authorisation, granted on Wednesday, was contained in an updated travel advisory issued on April 8, 2026, which maintained Nigeria at Level 3, urging American citizens to reconsider travel to the country due to escalating insecurity driven by terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime, and civil unrest.