The US government has ordered immigration officials to review thousands of Green Cards belonging to people from certain high-risk countries. This decision comes right after the shooting near the White House that killed a National Guard member.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the move. He said the review was requested directly by President Donald Trump and explained that protecting the American public is the top priority. He also blamed earlier immigration policies for allowing risky resettlements.
What Triggered the Policy
The decision follows a deadly attack near the White House earlier this week. An Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, opened fire on two National Guard service members.
- Army specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries.
- Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still in critical condition.
Lakanwal arrived in the United States in 2021 during the emergency evacuation from Afghanistan. His asylum status was approved later during the Trump presidency.
Who Will Be Affected
USCIS officers will now review Green Cards issued to immigrants from 19 “countries of concern”. They can also use country-specific risk factors when reviewing future immigration applications.
List of countries of concern: The affected countries are:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Burundi
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Laos
- Libya
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
For Green Card holders from these nations, USCIS will carry out a “full‑scale, rigorous reexamination” of their status.
Immigration officers can now look again at security information, past records and any new concerns that may have appeared since the original Green Card was approved.
This decision applies immediately to both pending and newly filed immigration requests.
Impact on Indian Green Card Holders
Indian immigrants will not be affected by this policy change. India is not on the list of high-risk countries, so Indian residents in the US do not face extra review under the new rules.
Green Cards, also known as Permanent Residence Cards, give long-term legal status in the United States and can eventually lead to citizenship.