Trump administration orders review of green cards from "countries of concern"

The Trump administration announced on Thursday a "comprehensive and thorough reexamination" of all green cards issued to immigrants from what it calls "countries of concern," following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. The suspect, an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021, has been taken into custody in connection with Wednesday's attack.

Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, stated that the directive was issued at President Trump's request. Two officials from the Department of Homeland Security told CBS News that 19 countries are on the review list, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Venezuela.

The attack targeted two members of the West Virginia National Guard, Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, near the White House. Authorities described the incident as an "ambush-style attack." President Trump confirmed Thursday that Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries, while Wolfe remained in critical condition.

The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was shot by a National Guard member during the incident. Lakanwal faces three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and an additional charge for firearm possession during a violent crime. Authorities indicated that charges may change depending on the condition of the injured soldiers.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome program for Afghan nationals. The CIA verified that he had previously worked with the agency in Afghanistan. DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin announced that all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration are now under review, though the scope of the review remains unclear.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration initiated an unprecedented review of refugees admitted under the Biden administration, seeking to rescreen arrivals to ensure compliance with legal requirements. Lakanwal's asylum case had been approved earlier this year, despite his entry in 2021.

McLaughlin suggested that a Biden-era court settlement requiring expedited Afghan asylum processing may have contributed to Lakanwal's approval. Following the shooting, all immigration requests from Afghan nationals have been paused. Approximately 85,000 Afghans were resettled in the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome after the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, often initially housed on military bases before entering the country.

President Trump released a social media video condemning the shooting as "an act of evil, hatred, and terror," emphasizing that it was a crime against the nation and humanity. He criticized the Biden-era program that allowed the suspect's entry and pledged to review all Afghan arrivals under that policy. Trump also highlighted concerns about Somali immigrants in Minnesota, stating that no country can tolerate such security risks.

Analysis: Immigration Review Following Washington, D.C. Attack

From my perspective, the administration’s decision to reexamine green cards issued to immigrants from designated “countries of concern” is a direct response to a confirmed security incident involving a recent asylum recipient. The review was ordered by President Trump and formally announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after the attack on National Guard members near the White House.

The suspect, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, had his asylum case approved earlier this year. This approval occurred despite an ongoing internal reassessment of refugee and asylum admissions from the Biden administration period. According to the Department of Homeland Security, expedited processing requirements tied to a prior court settlement may have influenced the outcome of his case.

Based on official statements, the current review encompasses green cards and asylum approvals linked to 19 countries identified by DHS. Authorities have also paused new immigration requests from Afghan nationals while determining whether existing screening and vetting procedures met legal and security standards.

In this context, the administration is framing the policy shift as a compliance and security measure rather than a broad change to immigration law. The scope, duration, and potential consequences of the review remain undefined, but officials have indicated that additional actions may follow once the reassessment is complete.

Sources:

• Trump administration orders green card "reexamination" from "countries of concern"