US to Review Green Cards from 19 Countries in Immigration Crackdown
The United States government is set to reassess green cards issued to individuals from 19 designated countries amid an ongoing immigration crackdown. This initiative responds to recent events, including the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Green Card Review Process Initiated
Joe Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced on X that this evaluation is being conducted at the directive of President Donald Trump. Edlow emphasized the need for a thorough review of all green cards for individuals from countries regarded as “of concern.”
Countries Under Scrutiny
According to a statement from USCIS, the list of 19 countries includes:
- Afghanistan
- Burma
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
New Immigration Policies Enforced
In light of recent violence and security concerns, the Department of Homeland Security is also reexamining approved asylum cases from the Biden administration, particularly concerning Afghan nationals.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at DHS, stated that processing of immigration requests related to Afghan nationals is halted indefinitely while security protocols are reviewed. The decision follows the identification of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, as the shooting suspect.
Background on Afghan Resettlement
Lakanwal previously collaborated with the U.S. government, gaining entry to the U.S. through Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome” in 2021. He applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted in 2025.
Since the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, over 190,000 Afghans have resettled in the United States, according to the State Department. Concerns have been raised by various Afghan community organizations about the impact of Lakanwal’s actions on the immigration status of others who meet the legal requirements.
Political Reactions and National Security Concerns
In a recent address, Trump criticized the Biden administration for admitting Lakanwal and highlighted immigration from Afghanistan as a significant national security issue. He expressed the need to closely examine all individuals who entered the U.S. under the previous administration.
Trump mentioned the presence of “20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners” as a risk, aligning this stance with his administration’s previous anti-immigration policies.
The administration’s intensified scrutiny of green cards and immigration processes underscores ongoing tensions surrounding U.S. immigration policy and national security. This move is expected to influence future immigration proceedings significantly.
