US Immigration Freeze Hits African Nationals as Work Permits, Green Cards Paused

A sweeping US immigration directive taking effect on January 21 will suspend the processing and renewal of work permits, asylum applications and green cards for nationals from dozens of countries, with African states among the hardest hit, raising fears of job losses and legal uncertainty for thousands living in the United States.

Under the directive, the US government has instructed immigration authorities to pause most US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) applications from citizens of more than 40 African, Middle Eastern, Asian and Caribbean countries, citing heightened security and immigration controls.

African countries affected include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.

The freeze covers work permit issuance and renewals, a move that immigration lawyers and advocacy groups warn could force many legal workers out of their jobs as US law requires a valid employment authorisation before engaging in paid work.

The directive also affects green card processing and renewals, placing lawful permanent residents from the listed countries at risk of losing valid documentation if their applications expire while adjudications remain suspended.

Employers across healthcare, agriculture, transport and service sectors — industries that employ large numbers of African migrants — are expected to feel the impact as workers lose eligibility to remain on payrolls without valid permits.

The policy also halts progress on asylum applications, leaving many applicants in prolonged legal limbo. Individuals with pending cases or expiring documents will not receive decisions or renewals until the pause is lifted, with no timeline provided by authorities.

This is part of a wider immigration clampdown that includes new travel restrictions and expanded vetting measures. Officials say the changes are aimed at tightening oversight of immigration benefits, though critics argue the policy disproportionately affects African and developing nations and risks undermining legal migration pathways.

ligadwah@businessdayafrica.org