Trump Claims Over One-Third of Nigerian Immigrant Households in the US Rely on Welfare Support

Former United States President Donald Trump has disclosed figures suggesting that more than one-third of Nigerian immigrant households living in the United States receive government assistance. According to data shared by Trump, approximately 33.3 percent of Nigerian immigrant families depend on at least one form of public benefit.

The statistics were published on January 4, 2026, through Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, during renewed political discussions surrounding immigration, welfare reliance, and the economic role of foreign-born residents in the U.S. The post aligns with ongoing Republican arguments emphasizing stricter immigration controls and reduced public spending on non-citizens.

The data appeared in a chart titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin.” The chart examined immigrant households from around 114 countries and territories, focusing on how many receive public support. These benefits include programs such as food assistance, healthcare coverage, and other federally or state-funded social services.

Countries With the Highest Welfare Dependency Rates

According to the chart, several nations recorded significantly high levels of welfare usage among immigrant households in the United States. The countries with the highest reported percentages include:

• Bhutan – 81.4%
• Yemen – 75.2%
• Somalia – 71.9%
• Marshall Islands – 71.4%
• Dominican Republic – 68.1%
• Afghanistan – 68.1%
• Congo – 66.0%
• Guinea – 65.8%
• Samoa (1940–1950 category) – 63.4%
• Cape Verde – 63.1%

These figures reflect the proportion of immigrant households from each listed country that reportedly receive some form of public assistance.

Countries With the Lowest Welfare Participation

On the opposite end of the scale, the chart also identified nations whose immigrant populations show lower reliance on public benefits. The ten countries with the smallest percentages include:

• Bermuda – 25.5%
• Saudi Arabia – 25.7%
• Israel/Palestine – 25.9%
• Argentina – 26.2%
• South America (unspecified) – 26.7%
• Korea – 27.2%
• Zambia – 28.0%
• Portugal – 28.2%
• Kenya – 28.5%
• Kuwait – 29.3%

These numbers were presented as part of broader arguments concerning economic self-sufficiency among immigrant communities.

Expansion of Travel Bans and Immigration Restrictions

Alongside the release of welfare data, the Trump administration continued to strengthen its immigration enforcement strategy. In June 2025, a presidential proclamation introduced full and partial travel bans targeting countries classified as security concerns. The justification cited included terrorism risks, weak identity verification systems, and insufficient cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.

Under this policy:

• Full bans halted visa issuance and entry for citizens of 12 countries
• Partial bans restricted specific visa types, including tourist, student, and exchange programs, for nationals of seven countries

In late December 2025, the White House issued an updated directive extending these measures into 2026. The revised proclamation expanded the total list to 39 countries, with enforcement beginning January 1, 2026.

Newly added countries under full restrictions included Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, while individuals traveling with Palestinian Authority documents were also prohibited from entry.

Nigeria was included among countries placed under partial restrictions, alongside Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These limitations affected both immigrant visas and widely used non-immigrant categories such as F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange) visas.

Visa Policy Changes Affecting Nigerians

The administration’s immigration approach extended beyond travel bans. In July 2025, major revisions were made to U.S. visa rules for Nigerian applicants. The Department of State reduced most non-immigrant visas to single-entry permits valid for only three months.

This change replaced the previous policy that allowed Nigerians to obtain multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years. Officials described the adjustment as part of a wider alignment with enhanced U.S. security standards and global travel controls.

Broader Enforcement Measures

Reports further indicate that immigration enforcement intensified throughout 2025. Approximately 85,000 visas were revoked during the year, reflecting stricter screening processes and expanded review criteria. These measures targeted a broad range of foreign visitors, including students and temporary residents, reinforcing the administration’s firm stance on both legal and irregular migration.

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