Nigerians to be affected as US changes green-card rules for foreign workers’ children

The United States has broadened the circumstances under which children born on American soil to certain foreign government employees can obtain lawful permanent residence.
Under a new interim final rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), eligible children can register for permanent resident status where neither parent is a U.S. citizen and at least one parent was a qualifying foreign government employee at the time of the child’s birth.
The rule, which took effect September 4, 2026, expands an existing provision that previously covered children born in the U.S. to foreign diplomatic officers.
Rather than limiting eligibility to diplomatic officers, DHS has introduc...