By Peter Omopo
The United States government has announced a sweeping review of all Green Cards issued to nationals of 19 countries—10 of them in Africa—after an attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., on November 26.
The review was ordered by President Donald Trump, following the arrest of a 29-year-old Afghan national identified as the suspect in the attack. According to AfghanEvac, which assisted in resettling Afghans after the Taliban takeover in 2021, the suspect had been granted asylum in April 2025, not permanent residency.
In a statement released on X, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow announced the directive, describing it as a “rigorous re-examination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.” He added that safeguarding American lives was “paramount,” and that the U.S. would no longer “bear the cost of the prior administration’s reckless resettlement policies.”
Expanded Vetting for 19 Countries
Under the new order, USCIS officers now have the authority to apply “negative, country-specific factors” when processing Green Card applications from nationals of the listed countries. The order applies to pending applications as well as any filed on or after November 27, 2025.
Immigration officials may delay decisions, request additional documents, or issue denials based on the new criteria, significantly expanding the agency’s discretionary powers.
Impact on Africa
The policy is expected to intensify visa delays and deepen uncertainty for many African families. The U.S. remains a major destination for African professionals, students, and refugees. Critics warn that the expanded review could worsen existing backlogs and reinforce concerns that national-security classifications disproportionately affect African nations.
Countries such as Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan already face restrictive U.S. immigration measures, and analysts say the new scrutiny could further entrench long-standing barriers.
African Countries Affected
The following African nations are among the 19 countries covered by the U.S. Green Card review order:
- Burundi
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Libya
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Togo
The policy shift marks one of the most significant immigration reviews of the Trump administration’s second term and has drawn concern from migration experts, civil rights advocates, and African diplomatic circles.
More updates are expected as USCIS begins implementing the new vetting procedures across all processing centres.
