The election in the US is expected to have a significant impact on potential migrants to the United States, with contrasting immigration policies proposed by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. These policies will influence US immigration law, affecting the opportunities and legal pathways to residency and citizenship for prospective migrants. Trump’s policies emphasize stricter immigration controls and a reduction in Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations.
Conversely, Harris proposes to expand legal immigration and create pathways to citizenship, drawing on her background as a prosecutor and attorney to bolster security at the southern border. While Harris has modified her stance on border security to align more closely with Trump, the two candidates diverge sharply on their commitments regarding asylum, TPS, and deportation protocols. Trump’s proposed immigration measures would impose stringent controls targeting specific countries, while notably excluding Nigeria.
Key components of his plan include ending TPS for nationals from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal; reinstating the Muslim travel ban that previously restricted immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries; and enforcing policies affecting migrants from Mexico. One significant change that may affect Nigerians is Trump’s proposed elimination of birthright citizenship. If implemented, this policy would impact Nigerians who traditionally travel to the United States to give birth to their children, thus securing citizenship for them. Trump stated, “It’s ridiculous that we’re the only country in the world where a person comes in, has a baby, and that baby becomes a citizen of the United States for 85 years, receiving all of the associated benefits. This has to end.”
He plans to execute this change through an executive order, which contradicts the 14th Amendment, stating, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” In 1898, the US Supreme Court reaffirmed the right of citizenship for children born to legal permanent residents.
However, some conservatives argue that this right should not extend to everyone, especially those in the country illegally or those with temporary legal status. On a more positive note for Nigerian nationals, Trump’s policies also propose a merit-based immigration system. This would allow automatic Green Cards for foreign graduates of US colleges. Although this may limit overall immigration numbers, this aspect of his plan could benefit some Nigerians. Trump expressed, “What I would like is a new legal immigration system that protects American wages, promotes American values, and attracts the best and brightest from all around the world.”
He emphasized that this policy would extend to graduates from all types of US colleges, including junior colleges and those with doctorate degrees. If Harris is re-elected, her promise to increase employment-based visas by 13 percent and family-based visas by 7 percent through 2030 would be a positive development for Nigerians seeking immigration opportunities.
Currently, the US issues 1.1 million permanent legal resident visas, also known as Green Cards, each year, with the majority being awarded to individuals with family ties to US citizens rather than based on skills or employment.
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