Trump Administration to Re-Examine Green Cards for Immigrants from 19 Countries
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced Thursday it will conduct a sweeping re-examination of green cards held by immigrants from 19 countries, a move that follows a shooting in Washington, D.C., allegedly carried out by an Afghan national.
The directive, announced by Joseph Edlow, the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), signals a significant escalation in the administration’s immigration enforcement and vetting procedures. The policy will affect lawful permanent residents from nations already flagged for heightened scrutiny.
“The protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount, and the American people will not bear the cost of the prior administration’s reckless resettlement policies,” Edlow stated in a social media post.
While the announcement did not explicitly link the policy to Wednesday’s attack, it came a day after two National Guard troops were gravely injured in a shooting. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, reportedly entered the United States in 2021 through a special immigration program for Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
President Donald Trump pointed to the incident as evidence of a critical security failure. “This attack underscores the greatest national security threat facing our nation,” Trump said. “The last administration let in 20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners from all over the world.”
Which Countries Are Affected?
When asked by the BBC for the list of countries, USCIS referred to a June proclamation from the White House. The listed countries include:
· Afghanistan
· Iran
· Syria
· North Korea
· Venezuela
· Cuba
· Haiti
· Somalia
· Myanmar
· Chad
· Republic of Congo
· Libya
The June proclamation justified the restrictions based on security concerns, inadequate passport and document controls, and high visa overstay rates. For instance, it noted that Afghanistan “lacks a competent or cooperative central authority” and is controlled by the Taliban, a designated terrorist group.
Broader Context of Scrutiny
This new green card review is part of a broader pattern of intensified vetting. Last week, USCIS announced a review of all refugees admitted under former President Joe Biden. Furthermore, on Wednesday, the U.S. suspended the processing of all special immigration visa requests from Afghans pending a review of “security and vetting protocols.”
Edlow confirmed the re-examination would be comprehensive, stating President Trump had directed him to conduct “a full scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.” No further details were provided on how this large-scale review would be implemented or what the potential consequences for green card holders could be.
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