The Trump administration has ordered a rigorous re-examination of all Green Cards issued to immigrants from 19 high-risk countries, but Indian nationals in the US will not be affected.
Washington DC: The Trump administration has announced a rigorous re-examination of all Green Cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern” following the recent shooting of two National Guard service members near the White House by an Afghan national.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that, at the direction of President Donald Trump, he has ordered a “full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.” Edlow added that protecting the United States and its citizens is the administration’s top priority and criticised the previous Biden administration for what he termed “reckless resettlement policies.”
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The incident that triggered this review involved Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who opened fire on National Guard personnel on Wednesday near the White House. US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom (20) died, and US Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe (24) remains in critical condition. Lakanwal had entered the US in 2021 under a resettlement program initiated by the Biden administration following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, with his asylum approved after Trump became president.
Impact on Indian Green Card Holders
Indians residing in the United States will not be affected by this crackdown. The new policy guidance allows USCIS officials to consider country-specific factors for 19 designated “high-risk” countries during immigration reviews. These countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen—the same countries included in Trump’s travel ban proclamation issued in June 2025.
The USCIS, operating under the Department of Homeland Security, clarified that the new guidance applies immediately to requests pending or filed on or after November 27, 2025. Green Cards, or Permanent Residence Cards, grant holders legal resident status, providing a pathway to US citizenship after a set period and allowing them to live and work in the country indefinitely.
While the crackdown will intensify scrutiny for immigrants from the listed high-risk countries, Indian Green Card holders remain unaffected. The focus remains on enhancing national security and reviewing applications from designated countries of concern.
Published: 28 Nov 2025, 11:11 am IST
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