President Donald Trump has shared a chart on his Truth Social platform, claiming that approximately 33.3% of Nigerian immigrant households in the United States receive some form of public assistance. The chart, titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” covers immigrants from around 120 countries and territories, detailing welfare participation rates among immigrant households.
According to the chart, countries with the highest reported rates of welfare participation among immigrants include Bhutan, Yemen, Somalia, the Marshall Islands, and the Dominican Republic, with rates ranging from 68.1% to 81.4%. In contrast, countries with the lowest welfare participation rates among immigrants include Bermuda, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Korea, and Kenya, with rates between 25% and 29%. Nigeria is listed at 33.3%, placing it closer to the middle of the chart.
The release of the chart comes as the Trump administration continues to emphasize the importance of considering access to public benefits in shaping immigration rules and eligibility standards. In June 2025, the White House introduced a presidential proclamation imposing travel bans and restrictions on several countries, citing security concerns and limited cooperation with US immigration authorities. The administration has reiterated that welfare usage should be a factor in decisions on who is allowed to enter or remain in the United States.
In late December 2025, the administration extended the restrictions into 2026, expanding the list to 39 countries, effective January 1, 2026. The partial restrictions affect access to immigrant visas and several non-immigrant visa categories, including student, vocational, and exchange visas. Nigeria is among the countries subject to partial restrictions, along with several other African and Caribbean countries.
The Trump administration’s focus on welfare participation rates among immigrant households is part of a broader effort to reshape US immigration policies. As the debate on immigration continues, the use of data on welfare participation rates is likely to remain a key aspect of the discussion. The administration’s decision to extend and expand travel restrictions has significant implications for individuals and families seeking to enter or remain in the United States, and the issue is expected to continue to be a major topic of discussion in the coming months.
