The Trump administration has announced it will re-examine green cards issued to immigrants from 19 countries, citing national security concerns.
Joseph Edlow, head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, said President Trump directed a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.”
When asked about the countries affected, the agency referenced a June White House proclamation that listed Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela, among others.
The announcement comes after an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, seriously injuring both. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had arrived in the U.S. in 2021 under a program that offered special protections to Afghans following America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
President Trump described the attack as a “major national security threat” and used it to highlight what he called weaknesses in previous immigration policies.
In a social media post, Edlow stated that the review was not tied to any single incident. “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,” he said.
Details of how the review will be conducted remain limited. The June proclamation cited by the agency emphasized the goal of restricting foreign nationals to prevent threats from terrorists and other public safety risks. It also pointed to issues with visa overstays for business, student, and tourist categories.
“The Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, controls Afghanistan,” the proclamation said. “Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents, and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.”
Other countries whose green card holders will undergo review include Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, and Libya.
The recent attack prompted a strong response from Trump, who criticized previous immigration policies. “The last administration let in 20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners from all over the world, from places that you don’t even want to know about. No country can tolerate such a risk to our very survival,” he said.
The green card review follows a similar move last week, when Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a review of all refugees admitted under former President Joe Biden. On Wednesday, the agency also suspended processing all immigration requests from Afghans, citing security and vetting concerns.
Officials said the review aims to ensure that green card holders do not pose a threat to public safety. While it focuses on 19 countries, it highlights broader concerns about the security and oversight of U.S. immigration programs.
This initiative reflects the Trump administration’s stated priority to strengthen national security by tightening immigration controls. While many details remain unclear, it is expected that the review will affect thousands of immigrants already living in the United States.
