Key Takeaways
- Trump orders comprehensive Green Card review for permanent residents from 19 “countries of concern”
- Indian Green Card holders are not affected by this directive
- USCIS can now treat country of origin as a major “adverse factor” in immigration evaluations
- Policy follows deadly shooting of National Guard members by Afghan national
US President Donald Trump has directed immigration authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of all Green Cards held by permanent residents from 19 countries previously classified as “countries of concern.” The move comes after a deadly shooting incident in Washington DC that left one National Guard member dead.
Which Countries Are Affected?
The 19 nations on the list include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Cuba, and Venezuela. The complete list matches countries named in a June presidential proclamation that imposed full or partial entry suspensions.
Officials confirmed that the review applies to all permanent residents from these countries, even if their Green Cards were approved under previous administrations.
Impact on Indian Immigrants
The directive will not affect Indian Green Card holders. However, immigration experts caution that this measure represents part of a broader immigration crackdown and could signal additional policy changes ahead.
New USCIS Guidelines
Under the updated guidance from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), officers may now treat an applicant’s country of origin as a significant “adverse factor” when evaluating immigration benefits.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow explained: “My primary responsibility is to ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. American lives come first.”
Connection to Washington Shooting
Trump’s order came just one day after National Guard troops in Washington were shot near the White House by an Afghan national. One of the two injured Guard members died from her injuries on Friday.
Edlow stated the updated guidance directly responds to this incident, claiming the Biden administration had “weakened fundamental vetting and screening procedures” while prioritizing expedited resettlement from high-risk nations.
The 29-year-old suspect, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome – a Biden administration program that evacuated tens of thousands of Afghans after the US withdrawal. Lakanwal had previously served alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan and was a soldier in the Afghanistan army for over a decade.
