The Trump administration has announced one of the most sweeping immigration reviews in years following the deadly November 26 shooting of two U.S. National Guard troops near the White House. The move, ordered directly by President Donald Trump, will re-examine every green card belonging to migrants from 19 countries designated as “countries of concern” by the White House.
The announcement came just one day after authorities arrested Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, as a suspect in the killing of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and the critical wounding of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. The tragedy has quickly become a national flashpoint, igniting a fierce debate about vetting standards, humanitarian parole programs, and the long-term consequences of the Biden administration’s 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan.
A Sweeping Order From the White House
Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), revealed the directive in a statement posted to X.
“At the direction of @POTUS, I have directed a full scale, rigorous re-examination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern,” Edlow wrote.
It was a striking announcement — one that signals a major tightening of immigration enforcement under Trump’s second term. According to USCIS officials, the review will be conducted under existing statutory authority but applied with far greater intensity and scrutiny than in previous administrations.
The directive represents a dramatic policy shift. Green cards, which grant lawful permanent residency, are traditionally revoked only in severe cases, such as convictions for murder, rape, espionage, or terrorism-related offenses. Trump’s new order, however, broadens the scope to include national security risks, fraud concerns, and what the administration calls “compatibility issues” with American society.
For millions of Americans demanding tougher vetting after recent high-profile crimes, the move is long overdue. For critics, it marks a sharp break from the past decades of more lenient immigration policy.
A Deadly Attack That Sparked a Nationwide Review
The timing of the announcement is not coincidental. The review comes in the immediate aftermath of the shocking shooting in downtown Washington, where Beckstrom and Wolfe were attacked just blocks from the White House the day before Thanksgiving.
Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia native, died of her wounds. Wolfe remains in critical condition.
The suspect, Lakanwal, reportedly entered the United States legally in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program — the Biden-era initiative that resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the chaotic Kabul evacuation. Federal prosecutors have stated that Lakanwal once assisted the CIA during operations in Afghanistan, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding investigation.
While the USCIS announcement did not explicitly reference the shooting, the political and national security backdrop was impossible to ignore.
Trump himself made that connection clear in a Truth Social post, arguing that the attack highlighted the “greatest national security threat facing our nation.”
Trump’s Broader Immigration Plan Takes Shape
Just a day before Edlow’s announcement, President Trump laid out a transformative immigration policy proposal following news of Beckstrom’s death. He vowed to:
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Permanently pause migration from “Third World countries”
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Terminate millions of Biden-era illegal admissions
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End federal benefits for noncitizens
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Denaturalize individuals who undermine public safety or domestic tranquility
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Deport foreign nationals deemed public charges or security risks
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Remove individuals incompatible with Western values
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Implement a strategy Trump referred to as “reverse migration”, aimed at reducing destabilizing populations and restoring national security
The new green card review fits squarely within this framework — an immigration overhaul centered on national interest, cultural stability, and enhanced security screening.
Which Countries Are Affected?
The Trump administration’s review will rely on a June presidential proclamation that designated countries of concern based on foreign policy, national security issues, and previous immigration risks.
The proclamation bans or restricts entry from the following nations:
Full Visa Bans
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Afghanistan
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Burma
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Chad
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Republic of the Congo
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Equatorial Guinea
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Eritrea
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Haiti
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Iran
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Libya
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Somalia
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Sudan
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Yemen
Partial Restrictions
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Cuba
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Burundi
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Laos
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Sierra Leone
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Togo
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Turkmenistan
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Venezuela
Green card holders from these 19 nations will undergo a comprehensive review to verify identity, background, criminal history, and national security concerns.
Officials stressed that the review does not automatically imply wrongdoing by green card holders, but rather that geopolitical risk factors require heightened scrutiny.
The Afghanistan Factor
Lakanwal, the suspect in the shooting, is of Afghan descent and arrived in the United States during the 2021 emergency evacuation prompted by the fall of Kabul.
Federal prosecutors told the BBC that he previously assisted U.S. intelligence operations, a detail that raises difficult questions about how the government balances security with humanitarian obligations. Some lawmakers have already requested briefings on how such individuals were screened and how risk assessments were performed during the Biden-era resettlement program.
Supporters of the new review argue that the vetting crisis exposed by the 2021 evacuation has never fully been resolved — and that the tragic death of a young National Guard soldier shows the consequences of ignoring those problems.
A Parallel Review of Biden-Era Refugees
USCIS recently announced a separate review of all refugees admitted during President Biden’s term. That process, combined with the new green card review, represents one of the largest immigration-security reassessments in modern U.S. history.
Trump and top administration officials have repeatedly emphasized that restoring national security begins with reestablishing trust in the immigration system. For many conservative voters, these moves are not just welcome — they’re overdue.
The administration maintains that the review is necessary to protect the nation and prevent tragedies like the D.C. shooting from occurring again.
Growing National Tension
The political climate remains tense as more details about the shooting emerge. Americans across the country continue to mourn Beckstrom — a patriot whose life was taken in the heart of the nation’s capital — while Wolfe’s condition remains a focus of national concern.
The attack has reinvigorated longstanding debates over immigration, assimilation, and the responsibility of government to protect those who defend it.
While the White House has not issued additional comment beyond its directives, the message is clear: the administration intends to move swiftly, decisively, and unapologetically in overhauling the nation’s immigration system.
And after the tragedy in Washington, many Americans believe the stakes have never been higher.
Sarah Mitchell is a bestselling novelist recognized for her insightful and emotionally resonant stories that explore the complexities of human relationships. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Sarah grew up in a family of teachers who nurtured her curiosity and love for storytelling. She studied psychology at Stanford University, where she became fascinated by the intricacies of human behavior—an interest that would later shape her writing career. Sarah’s novels are praised for their nuanced characters, intricate plots, and ability to capture the subtle tensions that define love, friendship, and family ties. Her breakthrough novel, The Spaces Between Us, became an instant bestseller, lauded for its honest portrayal of strained family relationships and the fragile bonds that hold people together. Since then, she has published several works that continue to captivate audiences around the world. Outside of her writing career, Sarah is passionate about mental health advocacy and often partners with organizations to promote awareness and support for those struggling with emotional well-being. Her personal life is quieter—she enjoys hiking in the Colorado mountains, practicing yoga, and spending time with close friends. With each new book, Sarah Mitchell cements her reputation as a writer who illuminates the beauty and struggles of human connection.
