The United States government has announced a sweeping review of all green cards issued to immigrants from Sierra Leone, placing thousands of Sierra Leonean permanent residents under renewed immigration scrutiny as the Trump administration intensifies its focus on what it calls “countries of concern.”
According to Joe Edlow, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the review will be a “full scale, rigorous” reassessment of permanent residency documents.
He made the announcement on X following a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., in which two National Guard members were killed. The U.S. Department of Justice later identified the shooter as Rahmanullah Lankawal, a national of Afghanistan.
USCIS officials stated, as reported by CNN, that the targeted nations are the same 19 countries listed in June for enhanced immigration scrutiny. The list includes Sierra Leone, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Yemen, Turkmenistan, Togo, Venezuela, and several others flagged due to perceived security or administrative concerns.
President Donald Trump, who directed the green card reexamination, further announced plans to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries” to allow what he described as a strained U.S. immigration system to “fully recover.” While no specific details have been released, Sierra Leone falls within the 44 Least Developed Countries identified by the United Nations, nations often grouped within the modern definition of “Third World.”
The development has sparked growing concern within the Sierra Leonean diaspora in the United States, many of whom fear the possibility of status reviews, delays in renewal processes, or even the potential revocation of their permanent residency. Community leaders say uncertainty is rising as families worry about how far-reaching the administration’s directives may be.
Sierra Leone’s government has not yet issued an official response, but diplomatic observers note that the move could complicate travel, immigration procedures, and long-term residency plans for Sierra Leonean nationals living abroad. Immigration advocates in the U.S. are also preparing for an influx of legal inquiries as affected communities seek clarity on their rights and options.
The Trump administration has framed the policy shift as part of a broader national security agenda, arguing that the recent shooting highlights vulnerabilities in the immigration system.
Sierra Leoneans in the U.S., meanwhile, await further information, hoping the reviews will not jeopardize their stability, livelihoods, and long-established lives in America.
