The United States government announced on Wednesday that it will impose visa restrictions on individuals deemed responsible for serious violations of religious freedom, including the reported killings and violence against Christians in Nigeria.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed the decision on the social platform X.
"The United States is taking decisive action in response to the atrocities and violence against Christians in Nigeria and around the world," he posted.
Under a new policy enabled by Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, the U.S. Department of State may deny visas to persons who “knowingly direct, authorise, fund, support, or carry out violations of religious freedom.”
In some cases, the restrictions may be extended to immediate family members.
Rubio earlier said the visa action would be “decisive,” reflecting Washington’s response to “mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond.”
He added that the policy will not only apply to Nigeria, but also to “other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.”
The move follows the official designation of Nigeria last month as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, reflecting alleged “particularly severe” abuses of religious liberty in the country.
It is not yet clear how many Nigerians or which individuals might be affected by the new restrictions, or how the U.S. will identify and assess responsibility.
The State Department said it will apply the policy to anyone — government actors or private individuals — found to have “directed, authorised, significantly supported, participated in or carried out violations of religious freedom.”
