Trump to Recheck Green Cards from 19 Nations After DC Attack

Published: 28 November 2025 Friday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The Trump administration has announced a sweeping plan to re-examine green cards issued to immigrants from 19 countries, citing national security concerns and renewed scrutiny following a violent attack involving an Afghan national in Washington DC. The decision marks one of the most extensive immigration reviews under President Donald Trump’s current term and has reignited fierce debate across the US regarding immigration policy, vetting standards, and political motivations behind such actions.

Joseph Edlow, the head of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said President Trump had directed his agency to conduct “a full scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.” When questioned about which nations fall under this review, USCIS pointed to a June White House proclamation identifying several countries: Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia and Venezuela, among others. The list, largely composed of states facing political instability, weak governance or strained relations with the US, provides the basis for the administration’s renewed concerns.

The announcement comes just days after an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC, leaving both service members gravely injured. Lakanwal arrived in the US in 2021 under a special immigration programme designed for Afghans following America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Although Edlow’s statement on the green card re-examination did not directly mention the attack, the timing has led many to draw a clear connection between the violent incident and the administration’s heightened immigration measures.

President Trump delivered a forceful response after the attack, calling it a “major national security threat” and using it to bolster his long-standing argument that the previous administration’s immigration approach posed risks to the US. “The last administration let in 20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners from all over the world,” he said. “No country can tolerate such a risk to our very survival.”

The June proclamation referenced by USCIS outlines the rationale behind restricting entry from certain countries, highlighting concerns such as terrorist threats, visa overstays and inadequate documentation processes. It also notes that Afghanistan, under Taliban control—designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group—lacks a reliable system for issuing secure civil documents. This, the proclamation states, presents a significant barrier to proper screening and vetting.

Among the other nations whose residents will face heightened scrutiny are Burma, Chad, the Republic of Congo and Libya. Each was cited for factors including political instability, weak security systems or high visa overstay rates. The administration argues that stringent review is necessary to protect national interests and ensure that individuals residing in the US with permanent resident status do not pose unidentified risks.

The green card review is not the only immigration measure recently introduced. Last week, USCIS announced it would re-examine the cases of all refugees admitted under former President Joe Biden, signalling a broader pattern of intensifying immigration enforcement. And on Wednesday, the US government suspended all immigration requests from Afghans pending a fresh evaluation of vetting protocols. The agency insisted the decision was not punitive but essential to maintaining security during the review period.

Critics, however, argue that the sweeping approach risks unfairly targeting entire populations based on nationality rather than individual conduct. Immigration advocates say such blanket measures could create fear among lawful permanent residents and discourage them from engaging with the system. Some have expressed concern that these actions may be politically driven, intended to rally support for Trump’s broader security agenda rather than address specific failings in the immigration system.

Nonetheless, supporters of the administration argue that the ongoing global instability, particularly in regions like the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Latin America, necessitates a modernised and more aggressive vetting process. They point to the Washington DC shooting as proof that current screening procedures are insufficient and warn that without intervention, future incidents may follow.

While the administration has yet to outline exactly what the re-examination will involve, it is expected that individuals from the listed countries may face background checks, updated security screenings or reviews of their immigration histories. It remains unclear whether the process could lead to revocation of green cards or changes in residency status. Officials say more details will be released once USCIS completes initial assessments.

As the US continues to grapple with political tension, divided views on immigration and concerns over national security, the upcoming review is certain to generate intense public debate. For the tens of thousands of green card holders from these 19 countries, uncertainty now hangs over their future in America, prompting widespread anxiety and questions about how the administration’s sweeping initiative will ultimately unfold.