The US government has ordered a nationwide review of all green cards held by immigrants from 19 countries after a shooting near the White House left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured.
The accused shooter, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, came to the US under the 2021 evacuation program. Former President Donald Trump directed a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination” of permanent residency permits for immigrants from Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will oversee the review, which will cover current green card holders, as well as pending and new applications from these countries, effective November 27, 2025. Officials said the applicant’s country of origin will now be a key factor in eligibility, citing national security concerns.
Supporters say the move is necessary to protect US citizens, while critics argue it unfairly targets immigrants based solely on nationality.
The review reflects a stricter, security-focused approach to immigration, shifting away from broad humanitarian resettlement programs. Thousands of residents from the 19 countries may face renewed scrutiny, and applicants seeking residency or asylum could encounter stricter requirements and longer processing times.
Authorities maintain the review aims to balance safety with fairness, but the decision has sparked debates over civil liberties and the treatment of immigrants from the targeted nations.
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