The Donald Trump administration has ordered USCIS to review every green card issued to citizens of 19 countries deemed “concerning” for national security. The move, prompted by the recent attack in Washington, applies to migrants who already hold a green card as well as those currently in the process of obtaining one.
Hours after the Washington attack that left two National Guard soldiers in critical condition, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow, announced a full review of all green cards issued to citizens of certain countries.
The directive came directly from President Donald Trump, who instructed the agency to conduct a “rigorous, large-scale reexamination” of all affected cases.
Which 19 Countries Are Included
USCIS confirmed that the review will apply to migrants from:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
These countries had already been included in the June presidential proclamation identifying nations posing high risk or demonstrating low cooperation on security matters.
Why These Green Cards Will Be Reviewed
The decision is directly linked to the recent Washington attack. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under a humanitarian program, had previously passed standard background and security checks.
The incident led the Trump administration to tighten controls and order:
- The reevaluation of all green cards already approved,
- The updating of security checks conducted years ago,
- The detection of possible inconsistencies or missing information in asylum or residency processes.
According to the administration, the goal is to strengthen domestic security and prevent risks linked to incomplete background checks or evolving geopolitical conditions in the countries involved.
Before announcing the broader review, USCIS had already suspended—effective immediately and indefinitely—all immigration applications from Afghan nationals.
This suspension affects:
- Asylum requests,
- Green card applications,
- Cases under the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, intended for Afghans who assisted the U.S. government during the war.
According to The New York Times, the measure also affects Afghans who worked with U.S. agencies and were awaiting resettlement through special programs.
Who Will Be Impacted by the New Review
The decision affects:
- Individuals who already hold a green card and are from any of the 19 countries,
- Migrants who are currently applying for permanent residency,
- Asylum seekers or applicants for other immigration benefits,
- Humanitarian cases that will now undergo additional screening.
USCIS has not announced automatic revocations, but it has made clear that every case will be reassessed under stricter security standards.
What Comes Next
In the coming weeks, USCIS is expected to release additional guidelines detailing timelines, notification procedures, and documentation requirements for the review.
In the meantime, migrants from the 19 countries should expect processing delays, requests for additional documentation, or new security interviews as part of the updated verification process.