The United States government has ordered a sweeping review of all Green Cards issued to immigrants from 19 countries, including 10 in Africa, following the November 26 attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. The Trump administration announced the move after the detained suspect was identified as a 29 year old Afghan who had previously worked with US forces and was granted asylum in April 2025, not permanent residency.
In a directive posted on X, US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow said President Donald Trump had ordered a rigorous re examination of every Green Card held by immigrants from designated “countries of concern.” He stressed that protecting Americans was paramount and blamed what he described as the prior administration’s “reckless resettlement policies” for current risks.
Under the new policy, USCIS officers can now apply “negative, country specific factors” when assessing Green Card applications from nationals of the 19 listed countries. The order covers all pending cases and any applications filed on or after November 27, 2025, giving officials broad powers to delay decisions, demand extra evidence or issue outright denials.
Analysts say the decision carries major implications for Africa, where the US remains a top destination for skilled workers, students and refugees. The expanded scrutiny is expected to worsen backlogs, deepen uncertainty for families and reinforce long standing concerns that security classifications unfairly target African states already facing tight US immigration controls.
Countries such as Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan were already subject to strict visa and resettlement rules before the latest directive. Observers warn that the new review could further entrench barriers for people from these and other listed nations, limiting opportunities for migration, study and work in the US.
These are the African countries affected by the US Green Card review: Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Togo.
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