By Charles Pemu 
ABUJA—Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has issued a stark warning to Nigerians and other Africans affected by the recent mass visa revocations in the United States, urging them to return home swiftly to avoid detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The former lawmaker used his X (formerly Twitter) platform on Monday to deliver his advisory, emphasizing the transient nature of life abroad: “Nigerians and other thousands of Africans whose visas were recently revoked by President Trump should hasten and leave the country and return home before they get arrested by ICE.”
Sani added a poignant reflection, stating, “No matter how long you live in the comfort of your adopted home, you will someday be reminded that it’s not your father’s house.”
The advisory follows alarming reports indicating a massive surge in visa revocations under the current US administration. The US State Department has reportedly revoked at least 80,000 visas since January 2025, a figure more than double the previous year’s total.
A report released last Thursday broke down the reasons for the sweeping revocations, which include significant numbers linked to criminal activity, such as driving under the influence and assault, in addition to thousands of student visas withdrawn for overstays, public safety threats, and actual terrorism connections.
The mass revocations coincide with stricter US visa regulations implemented in recent months. The US Embassy earlier directed all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas to set their social media accounts to public as part of enhanced background checks. Additionally, a major policy shift reduced the validity period for several visa categories for Nigerian applicants, signaling a sustained tightening of immigration control under President Trump.
While the nationalities of the affected individuals were not specified, Senator Sani’s direct warning underscores the growing apprehension and uncertainty within the African diaspora community regarding their legal status in the US.