The United_States has announced a sweeping review of Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries—ten of them in Africa, among which are Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan—following the November 26 attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.
The Trump administration confirmed the move after authorities identified the detained suspect as a 29-year-old Afghan national who had previously worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow said on X that President Trump had ordered a “rigorous re-examination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern,” adding that safeguarding Americans was “paramount” and blaming the previous administration for “reckless resettlement policies.”
Under the directive, USCIS will now apply “negative, country-specific factors” when processing Green Card applications from the listed states. The policy affects both pending applications and those filed on or after November 27, 2025, giving immigration officers broad discretion to delay decisions, request more evidence or issue denials.
The affected nations include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Analysts say the decision carries major implications for Africa, where the U.S. remains a key destination for skilled workers, students and refugees.
The heightened scrutiny is expected to deepen visa delays, increase uncertainty for families and reinforce concerns that security-based classifications disproportionately target African countries.
Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan already face strict U.S. immigration controls, and observers warn that the expanded review could further tighten barriers for their citizens.
Source:AS.
