Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, urged Nigerians and other Africans affected by the recent mass visa revocations in the United States to return home quickly before U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests them. He gave this warning amid growing anxiety over President Donald Trump’s immigration actions, which led to the cancellation of tens of thousands of visas across multiple categories.
Sani made his statement in a post on his official X account on Monday. He expressed concern for Africans who now live in the U.S. without valid visas and reminded them that foreign countries, no matter how comfortable they seem, never replace one’s true home. He told them to act fast, leave America, and return to their homeland before the authorities detain them.
He wrote, “Nigerians and other thousands of Africans whose visas President Trump recently revoked should hasten and leave the country and return home before ICE arrests them. 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.”
Sani’s message carried a tone of urgency and realism. He spoke not only as a politician but also as someone who understood the struggles of migration and identity. Many Africans view the United States as a land of opportunity, a place to find better education, stable jobs, and freedom. Yet, his message reminded them that these opportunities could disappear overnight when policies change.
Reports confirmed that the U.S. State Department revoked more than 80,000 visas between January and October 2025 under President Trump’s directive. Officials said this number more than doubled last year’s total, signaling one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement campaigns in years.
The State Department’s report, released last Thursday, stated that officials revoked about 16,000 visas due to driving under the influence, 12,000 due to assault, and 8,000 student visas for various violations. The department said it also revoked other visas for reasons such as criminal activity, public safety threats, overstays, and connections to terrorism or terrorist support.
Although the department refused to reveal the nationalities of affected individuals, a previous report in August confirmed that it withdrew over 6,000 student visas from Africans for overstays and visa violations. Some of those cases involved suspected links to terrorist organizations.
The U.S. government tightened its visa policies throughout 2025. In July, the U.S. Embassy instructed all applicants for F, M, and J non-immigrant visas—categories that cover students, researchers, and exchange visitors—to make their social media accounts public. Immigration officers started checking applicants’ online activity as part of an expanded background verification process.
That same month, the U.S. Embassy introduced another change targeting Nigerian citizens. It shortened the validity period for several visa categories, including business and tourism visas. Nigerians who once held five-year multiple-entry visas now must renew them more often. Many Nigerians criticized this move, calling it unfair and discriminatory. Frequent travelers said it increased their financial and administrative burden.
These policy changes created widespread fear and confusion among Africans living in the United States. Many of them are students paying high tuition fees, workers supporting families, or professionals waiting for permanent residency. The visa revocations placed thousands of people at risk of losing their legal status and facing deportation.
Sani’s words resonated deeply across social media. Nigerians and other Africans responded with mixed emotions. Some praised him for speaking hard truths and encouraging people to prepare for reality. Others criticized his remarks, arguing that returning home isn’t easy when most African countries still struggle with poverty, insecurity, and unemployment.
Supporters said his advice reflected wisdom, not defeat. They interpreted his statement as a call for Africans to rethink migration and focus on building better societies at home. Critics countered that his message ignored the root causes of mass migration—corruption, poor governance, and limited opportunities—that push people abroad in the first place.
Despite differing opinions, everyone acknowledged that Sani’s message carried emotional weight. His phrase, “You will someday be reminded that it’s not your father’s house,” struck a nerve. It captured the pain of realizing that no matter how long one stays abroad, they remain a visitor. His words reflected the stories of countless immigrants who built lives overseas but lost everything overnight because of changing political decisions.
The visa revocations could also affect African economies. Millions of Africans abroad send money home every month to support their families. Nigeria alone receives billions of dollars annually in remittances from its citizens living in the U.S. and other countries. Those funds sustain schools, hospitals, and small businesses. If the revocations lead to mass deportations, the economic ripple effect could be severe.
Immigration experts weighed in on the issue. They said the U.S. government acted within its laws but questioned the scale and timing of the action. Analysts noted that President Trump’s administration continues to pursue an aggressive immigration policy under the banner of national security. Critics argued that the policy masks anti-immigrant sentiments and aims to reduce diversity in the U.S.
For African students and professionals, the situation feels devastating. Many have invested years of their lives and thousands of dollars in their education and careers. Some have built families and businesses in America. Losing their visas means losing stability, security, and dreams. It also means starting over in home countries that may not have the infrastructure to absorb their skills and ambitions.
Reports from Washington, D.C., and other cities revealed that consular offices and immigration lawyers now face a surge in inquiries. Several African embassies have opened emergency channels to negotiate with the U.S. government, hoping to protect their citizens or arrange voluntary departure programs to prevent forced deportations.
Beyond the legal crisis, the visa cancellations have triggered deep emotional distress. Families risk separation, students fear expulsion, and workers face unemployment. Every revoked visa tells a personal story of hope interrupted. It represents the pain of someone who worked hard to build a life only to see it collapse overnight.
Sani’s message, though difficult to accept, echoed a call for self-determination. He urged Africans to see beyond the pain of rejection and turn their focus inward—to rebuild their countries and create systems that value their people. He challenged them to turn the disappointment of exclusion into a drive for development. His words implied that Africa could only gain respect globally if it first invested in itself.
He reminded Africans that real dignity begins at home. Instead of clinging to nations that could revoke their rights, he encouraged them to strengthen their own societies. He told them that Africa could become a land of opportunity if its citizens channel their energy into reforming governance, boosting education, and creating sustainable jobs.
The Trump administration has shown no sign of reversing the visa cancellations. The State Department insists it acted legally and transparently, saying that public safety and national security remain its top priorities. Immigration enforcement continues to intensify, and ICE agents have increased raids and deportations across multiple states.
As of early November, thousands of affected individuals still wait for updates on their cases. Some continue to live in hiding to avoid detection, while others have already begun returning home voluntarily. Several African governments have begun preparing to receive returning citizens, although many lack resources to reintegrate them effectively.
Shehu Sani’s message stands out as one of the strongest reactions from an African leader to the visa crackdown. He combined empathy with realism and reminded Africans that safety abroad remains conditional. He told them not to treat foreign residency as a guarantee but as a temporary privilege that could end at any moment.
His advice echoes a broader truth about the global migration story. People often see migration as a solution, not a phase. But as Sani pointed out, migration offers opportunity only when balanced with the knowledge that one still belongs somewhere else. Africans who live abroad must remember that nations act in their own interests, and one policy change can undo years of hard work.
The U.S. government continues to tighten its immigration system, and other countries may follow. Sani’s call for Africans to return home may sound harsh, but it comes from a place of caution and pride. He reminded his audience that a person’s true identity and stability lie in their homeland, not in a borrowed home that can turn its back without warning.
In a world where governments can revoke visas without warning, Shehu Sani’s message stands as both a caution and a call to action. He urged Africans to bring their knowledge, skills, and wealth back home to strengthen their countries instead of seeking comfort in nations that may one day reject them. He reminded them that true belonging comes from contributing to the growth and progress of one’s homeland, not merely surviving in a foreign country that offers temporary acceptance. Sani emphasized that when people invest their energy in developing their own nations, they create lasting security and dignity that no revoked visa can take away. His words echo the truth that no matter how far one travels or how long one stays abroad, a foreign land can never replace the warmth, identity, and ownership found in one’s homeland. The comfort of another nation may appear stable, but it can vanish in an instant when policies change. Only by building Africa with determination and unity can its people ensure they never need to beg for space elsewhere. In the end, Sani’s warning carries a timeless truth—home will always be the only place where freedom truly belongs.