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US launches sweeping review of green cards from 19 nations
The Trump administration will conduct a "rigorous re-examination" of all permanent residency permits issued to nationals from 19 designated countries, the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Thursday. The move follows a shooting in Washington, D.C., where an Afghan immigrant allegedly wounded two National Guard troops.
Countries targeted in review
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the directive but did not name the 19 nations. The agency later referenced a June White House proclamation listing Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela among countries of concern. Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, and Libya were also identified in the proclamation as facing heightened scrutiny.
The June document cited security risks, including terrorism threats and high visa overstay rates, as justification for restrictions. Afghanistan was singled out for its lack of "a competent or cooperative central authority" to verify passports or civil documents, with the Taliban-designated a global terrorist group-controlling the country.
Link to Washington, D.C. shooting
The announcement comes two days after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in 2021 under a special immigration program for Afghans, allegedly shot two National Guard members. President Donald Trump called the attack "the greatest national security threat facing our nation," blaming the previous administration for admitting "20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners."
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.
Joseph Edlow, USCIS Director, via social media
Broader immigration crackdown
This week's green card review follows two other recent measures:
- Refugee review: Last week, USCIS announced it would re-examine all refugees admitted under former President Joe Biden.
- Afghan visa freeze: On Wednesday, the U.S. suspended processing all immigration requests from Afghans, pending a review of "security and vetting protocols."
Unclear process ahead
Edlow's statement did not specify how the re-examination would be conducted or what criteria would trigger revocations. The June proclamation had framed restrictions as necessary to prevent "foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats" from entering the U.S.
