The Trump administration has initiated a comprehensive re-examination of green cards issued to immigrants from 19 nations deemed security risks, following a recent shooting incident involving an Afghan national in Washington DC. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow announced the policy shift, stating President Trump had directed “a full scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.”
The review targets countries previously identified in a June White House proclamation, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Venezuela, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo and Libya. The administration cited security concerns and high visa overstay rates as primary factors for inclusion on the list.
The policy announcement comes days after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through special immigration programs following America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, allegedly shot and gravely injured two National Guard troops. While Edlow’s social media announcement did not explicitly reference the attack, he emphasized that “the protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount.”
President Trump characterized the shooting as underscoring “the greatest national security threat facing our nation,” criticizing previous administration policies that he claimed admitted “20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners from all over the world.”
The June proclamation highlighted by USCIS to the BBC specifically noted Afghanistan’s Taliban control, lack of competent central authority for document issuance, and inadequate screening measures as justification for enhanced scrutiny. This move follows last week’s announcement of a review of all refugees admitted under former President Biden, signaling a broader immigration policy reassessment.