Headline

US Threatens Visa Overstayers With Lifetime Ban

Published

4 hours ago

July 14, 2025

The United States government has issued a severe warning to foreign nationals who overstay their visa validity.

The embassy also cautioned that such action could lead to deportation and a permanent ban from re-entering the country.

In a statement made available to the press on Monday, US immigration authorities reiterated their longstanding policy on visa compliance, saying, “If you remain in the United States beyond your authorised period of stay, you could be deported, and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States.”

This warning comes amid rising migration figures, especially among young Africans, many of whom travel to the United States in pursuit of better education and economic opportunity.

According to recent data from the US Department of Homeland Security, visa overstays represent a significant portion of immigration violations annually, prompting tighter enforcement measures and renewed public awareness campaigns by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

However, under US immigration law, individuals who remain in the country unlawfully for more than 180 days can face a three- or ten-year ban and, in some cases, a lifetime bar from returning.

For Nigerians seeking to relocate or study in the US, the warning serves as a reminder to comply strictly with immigration terms, especially as global scrutiny on migration grows fiercer.

Headline

US Will Send Ukraine Patriot Air Defense Systems

Published

12 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Editor

President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States would send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine to help it fight off a Russian invasion, as his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin soured.

“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump said, without specifying how many, just two weeks after Washington said it would pause some arms deliveries to Kyiv.

“I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection,” he told reporters.

The weapons delivery will be part of a new deal which Trump says will involve NATO paying the United States for some of the weapons it sends to Ukraine.

“We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military and they’re going to pay us 100 percent for them,” Trump told reporters.

The US president repeated that he was “disappointed” in Putin.

When he first returned to the White House in January Trump insisted he could work with the Russian leader to end the war, but grew increasingly frustrated as Russian missiles continued with no ceasefire in sight.

“Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” said the disgruntled Trump.

US special envoy Keith Kellogg is due to begin his latest visit to Ukraine on Monday.

Trump also said he would meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday, when he previously said he would make a “major statement… on Russia.”

Headline

Canadian Province Quebec Stops New Sponsorships For Partners, Dependents Until 2026

Published

12 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Editor

The Quebec government, one of the 10 provinces in Canada, has suspended new applications under its family reunification program for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children aged 18 or over until June 25, 2026.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) on July 10, the province has reached its annual cap of 13,000 family sponsorship applications. Of these, 10,400 were allocated for immediate family members, while 2,600 slots were for parents, grandparents, and other eligible relatives.

The halt, effective from July 9, is aimed at aligning immigration levels with the province’s capacity to provide housing and public services. Quebec is currently grappling with a housing crunch, particularly in urban areas like Montreal.

Applications submitted after the cut-off will be returned unprocessed. However, exemptions apply for unmarried dependent children under 18, adopted children, orphaned minors, dependents with disabilities, and additions to ongoing applications.

MIFI advised potential sponsors to prepare in advance for the next intake and monitor updates ahead of the 2026 window.

Headline

Two Nigerians Make List Of America’s Richest Immigrants In 2025

Published

13 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Editor

Two Nigerian-born billionaires, Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi and Tope Awotona, have been named in Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Richest Immigrants.

The list features 125 billionaires from 41 countries, who collectively make up 14% of all billionaires living in the U.S. and control 18% of the country’s total billionaire wealth.

Top on the list are three South Africans, including Elon Musk ($393.1bn, Tesla, SpaceX); Patrick Soon-Shiong ($5.6bn, pharmaceuticals), and Rodney Sacks ($3.6bn, energy drinks).

They are closely followed by Ogunlesi, with a net worth of $2.4 billion, ranked 77th and recognized for his success in private equity, while Awotona, known for founding scheduling software company, Calendly, sits at 106th with a $1.4 billion net worth.

Other African-born billionaires on the list include Haim Saban from Egypt ($3.1B, TV and investments); Marc Lasry from Morocco ($1.9B, hedge funds); and Bharat Desai from Kenya ($1.6B, IT consulting).

Forbes noted that a remarkable 93% of them were self-made, having built their fortunes primarily in industries such as technology and finance.

READ ALSO: Elon Musk’s X CEO Resigns

The growing number of immigrant billionaires, up from 92 in 2022 to 125 in 2025, reflects a shifting demographic and reinforces what Forbes describes as the “immigrant mindset”: a blend of resilience, innovation, and the drive to seize opportunity that continues to shape America’s economic landscape.

Forbes also released a list of top 10 America’s richest immigrants to include Elon Musk, net worth: $393.1bn; Sergey Brin, net worth, $139.7bn; Jensen Huang, net worth, $137.9bn; Thomas Peterffy, net worth, $67.9bn; and Miriam Adelson & Family, net worth, $33.4bn.

Others are Rupert Murdoch & Family, net worth, $24bn; Peter Thiel, net worth, $21.8bn; Jay Chaudhry, net worth, $17.9bn; Jan Koum, net worth, $16.9bn; and John Tu, net worth, $14.1bn