US to review all green cards granted to individuals from 19 countries as Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement

The United States will conduct a comprehensive review of all green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries labeled as of concern, following an order from President Donald Trump. This decision comes as the administration steps up immigration measures in the wake of the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC.

Joe Edlow, director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), stated on X that the agency has been instructed to carry out a full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern. USCIS directed CNN to a June presidential proclamation listing the 19 affected countries.

The countries under review are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

USCIS said that during the vetting process, it will now take into account negative, country-specific factors, including the ability of these nations to issue secure identity documents.

Authorities identified the suspect in the shooting as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national. Following this, the Trump administration intensified immigration restrictions. The Department of Homeland Security, which supervises USCIS, announced a review of all asylum approvals granted under former President Joe Biden.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that all immigration processing for Afghan nationals is paused indefinitely pending a review of security and vetting procedures. She added that asylum cases approved under the Biden administration are also under review.

Lakanwal, who had previously collaborated with US agencies including the CIA, arrived in the United States in 2021 through Bidens Operation Allies Welcome. He applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted in April 2025.

The Alliance of Afghan Communities in the United States condemned the shooting but voiced concern over potential impacts on other Afghan immigrants. The group urged authorities to continue processing legal immigration cases for Afghans without delay.

Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, more than 190,000 Afghan nationals have resettled in the country, according to the State Department.

In a video address from Mar-a-Lago, Trump criticized the Biden administration for allowing the shooter into the US and described the incident as highlighting a major national security threat. He called for a reexamination of all Afghan arrivals under Biden and emphasized removing any individuals deemed unsuitable or non-beneficial to the country.

Trump also expressed concern over what he described as 20 million unvetted foreigners admitted during the previous administration, labeling it a risk to national safety.

The move to reassess green cards aligns with Trumps broader anti-immigration stance. Green cards confer lawful permanent resident status, distinct from refugee or asylum programs, which the administration has sought to limit. Refugees must apply for a green card after one year of residence in the US.

Analysis: The Consequences of Trump's Green Card Review Directive

In a significant escalation of the United States' immigration policy, President Donald Trump's recent order to review all green cards issued to nationals from 19 countries categorized as "of concern" is a direct response to the recent shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC. This decision comes as part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to tighten immigration protocols following security concerns. Although the move is positioned as a security measure, its long-term implications could reach far beyond the immediate incident.

The countries under review — Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — represent a mix of geopolitical hotspots and regions of ongoing instability. By targeting individuals from these countries, the administration is highlighting perceived security risks associated with the issuance of green cards, with a particular focus on the ability of these nations to provide secure identity documentation.

While the decision underscores the Trump administration's tough stance on immigration, it also raises critical questions about fairness and the broader consequences for immigrants, particularly those who may already have legally entered the country. The review process, which includes re-evaluating asylum approvals and scrutinizing green card holders, may affect thousands of individuals who have gone through the rigorous immigration vetting process.

Importantly, the move is not just about tightening security measures. It is a clear statement from the Trump administration, aimed at further distancing itself from the immigration policies of the previous Biden administration. Trump's criticism of Biden's handling of Afghan refugees, specifically the case of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, echoes his broader narrative of immigration as a national security risk. The call for a reexamination of Afghan arrivals and the focus on "unvetted foreigners" entering the U.S. plays directly into Trump's narrative of protecting American interests first and foremost.

However, the broader implications of such a policy shift could have a destabilizing effect on trust in the U.S. immigration system. Advocacy groups, such as the Alliance of Afghan Communities, have already voiced concerns about the potential for the new directives to unfairly target vulnerable immigrant populations. These groups argue that ongoing legal immigration cases, particularly for Afghans, should continue to be processed without delay, regardless of the heightened security focus.

In conclusion, while the review of green cards and asylum cases may be framed as a security measure in light of a tragic incident, its long-term impact could undermine confidence in the U.S. immigration system. Moreover, it risks alienating communities already under stress, further complicating an already polarized debate on immigration reform in the United States.

Sources:

• US will reexamine all green cards issued to people from 19 countries as Trump administration ramps up immigration crackdown