The Trump administration has launched a sweeping review of all permanent resident cards issued to individuals from Afghanistan and other designated “countries of concern,” marking a significant shift in immigration policy that comes just one day after a tragic shooting incident near the White House.
Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced the comprehensive reexamination on November 27, revealing the scope of the administration’s response to mounting security concerns.
“At the direction of @POTUS, I have directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern,” Edlow stated on social media platform X, emphasizing the thorough nature of the upcoming review process.
The timing of this announcement carries particular weight, coming merely 24 hours after two National Guard soldiers were shot and critically wounded in an incident near the White House. Law enforcement sources indicate the alleged shooter was an Afghan national, though investigations into the incident are ongoing.
This development represents a significant escalation in the administration’s approach to immigration security, particularly affecting individuals who fled Afghanistan during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Thousands of Afghan nationals were granted expedited immigration status during that period as part of humanitarian evacuation efforts.
The review process is expected to examine the vetting procedures used during the initial green card approval process, with particular attention to individuals from countries that have been designated as posing potential security risks to the United States. While the full list of “countries of concern” has not been publicly disclosed, Afghanistan appears to be a primary focus of the initiative.
Immigration advocates and legal experts are closely monitoring how this comprehensive review will be implemented and what standards will be applied during the reexamination process. The announcement has already raised questions about the potential impact on thousands of legal permanent residents who may now face uncertainty about their immigration status.
The USCIS directive comes as the Trump administration continues to prioritize immigration enforcement and national security measures across multiple government agencies. This latest action signals a return to the administration’s previous approach of implementing strict vetting procedures for individuals from countries deemed to pose elevated security risks.
Details about the timeline for completing these reviews and the specific criteria that will be used in the reexamination process have not yet been released by USCIS officials. The agency is expected to provide additional guidance in the coming days as the comprehensive review process begins.
