Impact of Trump’s Visa Plan on African Countries

The Trump administration plans to significantly cut visa-processing services across Africa. This move could impact thousands of potential green card lottery winners and relatives of U.S. citizens, according to an analysis by Newsweek.

The U.S. State Department aims to reduce the number of U.S. embassies and consulates in Africa that handle visas from nearly 50 to 20 regional hubs. This information comes from a leaked memo and anonymous officials cited by The Associated Press (AP).

A State Department official did not confirm the specifics of this move to Newsweek, stating that the department is continually reviewing overseas operations. This includes maintaining a visa process that adheres to strict security screening and vetting standards.

Newsweek analyzed State Department immigrant visa data from July to September 2025 to identify the countries and applicants most affected by potential changes. Details are mapped out in the analysis by Newsweek.

The Countries with the Most Visas at Stake

Among the affected posts, Cairo in Egypt issued the highest number of immigrant visas, totaling 1,995 during the specified period. Following Cairo, Algiers in Algeria processed 867 visas, Casablanca in Morocco 752, Cotonou in Benin 365, and Tunis in Tunisia 194.

While the State Department has not released specific guidance regarding Africa, general instructions advise immigrant visa applicants in countries with suspended operations to apply at designated processing posts. For example, Cairo applicants would need to travel to Djibouti, about 1,486 miles away. Algiers and Casablanca applicants would head to Dakar, 1,979 and 1,443 miles away respectively. Cotonou applicants would be closest to Lagos, just 66 miles away, whereas Tunis applicants would travel about 2,136 miles to Lagos.

Who Would Face the Biggest Barriers?

Diversity Visas

Diversity Visas (DV) were the largest category affected, comprising 2,165 of the 4,778 total issuances. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, known as the green card lottery, offers U.S. residency without family or employer sponsorship. The Trump administration has tightened screening and sought to reduce fraud within this program.

Visas for Families of U.S. Citizens

The second most affected were IR1 visas for the spouses of U.S. citizens, with 674 issued. This was followed by IR5 visas for parents of U.S. citizens (417), F4 visas for siblings (334), and IR2 visas for unmarried children under 21 (334).

The Context: Trump’s Crackdown on Immigration

Immigration restrictions have been a focus of Trump’s presidency. This move marks another reduction in pathways for immigrants to reach the U.S., adding to travel bans on several African and Asian countries. The administration defends these measures as crucial for national security and fraud prevention. Critics argue they create hurdles for those pursuing legal immigration routes.

While the reported changes won’t eliminate immigrant visas in Africa, they could complicate the process for applicants from countries losing routine services.

Methodology

Newsweek identified affected posts using AP’s list of 20 visa-processing hubs and current Dept. of State listings of U.S. diplomatic missions in Africa. The analysis examined immigrant visa issuance data from July, August, and September 2025. Newsweek filtered the data for posts in countries identified as losing routine visa processing, totalling visa issuances by post and class over the three months.