The United States government has launched a comprehensive review of all Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries, including ten African nations, following the November 26 attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.
The suspect in the attack was a 29-year-old Afghan national who had previously worked alongside American forces in Afghanistan and was granted asylum in April 2025, rather than permanent residency.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,USCIS, Director Joseph Edlow said the administration is conducting a “full-scale re-examination” of all Green Cards for nationals of the affected countries.
The review allows immigration officers to evaluate applications using “negative, country-specific factors” and applies to pending applications as well as those submitted on or after November 27.
Officers are now empowered to delay decisions, request additional evidence, or deny applications.
The African countries included in the review are Burundi, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, and Togo.
The review is expected to affect migrants seeking education, employment, and asylum in the United States.
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Visa processing delays and increased uncertainty for families are likely outcomes. Some African countries, including Somalia, Eritrea, and Sudan, already face strict U.S. immigration restrictions, and the expanded scrutiny may reinforce these barriers.
The policy is part of broader immigration measures implemented by the administration, including tighter examination of asylum requests, visa suspensions, and more stringent evaluation of residency applications from countries deemed “of concern.”
The administration emphasized that protecting American citizens is a priority and that the review addresses potential risks associated with prior resettlement policies.
The review process will continue until all Green Cards issued to nationals of the designated countries are reassessed.
While the immediate focus is on national security, long-term effects could include increased visa backlogs, delayed family reunifications, and reduced immigration flows from affected nations.
The U.S. remains a major destination for skilled workers, students, and refugees, and the expanded review may create significant challenges for applicants from the ten African countries under scrutiny.
The Green Card review marks a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy, with African nationals among the most affected, and underscores the administration’s heightened focus on security and stricter evaluation of residency eligibility.
The Nation
