U.S. immigration agency initiates review of green card holders from 19 countries 'of concern'

President Donald Trump has instructed the federal agency managing legal immigration to the United States to perform an extensive review of green card holders from countries designated as concerning by his administration, according to the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Thursday.

"Following the President's directive, I have initiated a thorough reassessment of every Green Card issued to individuals from all countries identified as concerning," USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated on X. Edlow emphasized that national security remains a top priority, adding that "the American public should not bear the consequences of the previous administration's risky resettlement decisions."

When asked which countries are considered of concern, USCIS referred to a June presidential proclamation that listed 19 nations with inadequate screening and vetting measures. Afghanistan is among the countries on the list, along with Haiti, Iran, and Venezuela.

The announcement came a day after a shooting near the White House in which two National Guard members were injured. Twenty-year-old Sarah Beckstrom died, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remained in critical condition. They were deployed to Washington as part of federal troop support to multiple cities under Trumps orders.

Federal authorities reported that the suspect, an Afghan national who previously assisted U.S. forces, had entered the United States through the Operation Allies Welcome program during the Biden administration following the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The suspect received asylum in April of this year.

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, stated that her office is examining the suspects immigration history and the vetting procedures that allowed his entry. In a video, Trump described the incident as an act of terror and announced the deployment of additional National Guard members to Washington, D.C. Immigration requests from Afghan nationals have been paused indefinitely following the attack.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the shooting as targeted, and law enforcement sources identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Relatives reported that Lakanwal had served in the Afghan Army for ten years alongside U.S. Special Forces and arrived in the U.S. in September 2021 with his wife and five children.

A CIA spokesperson confirmed that Lakanwal had previously worked with the U.S. government as part of a partner force in Kandahar until 2021. President Trump commented on Lakanwal's actions, stating that he went nuts, highlighting concerns about individuals who arrived in the U.S. during the 2021 Afghan withdrawal.

Analysis: Trump Administration's Green Card Review - National Security Concerns

President Donald Trump's latest directive to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to conduct a comprehensive review of green card holders from countries deemed "concerning" reflects an ongoing prioritization of national security. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow's announcement that every green card issued to individuals from 19 such countries will be reassessed underscores the administration's emphasis on stringent vetting processes.

The move follows heightened security concerns, particularly in the wake of a shooting incident near the White House involving an Afghan national. This individual, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had entered the United States through the Operation Allies Welcome program after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The tragedy highlighted potential flaws in the vetting procedures for individuals arriving under the Biden administration's policies, triggering a critical review of those processes.

The countries on the list, including Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, and Venezuela, have been identified as having inadequate screening measures. These nations pose potential risks, which the Trump administration is now keen to address through heightened scrutiny. While some have raised questions about the fairness of such sweeping reviews, the move can be seen as a step toward preventing future incidents like the shooting, which has been labeled an "act of terror" by Trump.

As investigations into Lakanwal's immigration history unfold, the broader implications for U.S. immigration policy are becoming clearer. The decision to halt Afghan immigration requests indefinitely following the attack suggests a shift towards more restrictive measures. The ongoing review of green card holders is likely to be part of a larger effort to safeguard national security, but it also raises questions about the balance between security and the integration of individuals who have worked with U.S. forces overseas.

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• U.S. immigration agency launches re-examination of green card holders from 19 countries 'of concern'