The Trump administration has stated it intends to re-evaluate green cards issued to immigrants from 19 specific countries.
Joseph Edlow, head of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), indicated that the president has ordered a full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.
Inquiries made by the BBC confirmed the list of countries includes Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela, as referenced in a June proclamation from the White House.
This announcement follows an incident in Washington DC, where an Afghan national allegedly shot and injured two National Guard troops.
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had entered the US in 2021 through a program designed to provide special immigration protections for Afghans as the US withdrew from Afghanistan.
President Trump characterized the shooting as highlighting a significant national security threat. In response, Edlow emphasized the need to address the consequences of the previous administration's resettlement policies, declaring that the protection of the American people is a priority.
Details regarding the upcoming review process remain largely unspecified. However, the June proclamation aims to curb entries of foreign nationals deemed security risks, citing factors such as the loss of competent government structures in affected countries like Afghanistan.
Among other locations facing scrutiny are Burma, Chad, and Libya. The shooting incident has spurred calls for a thorough reassessment of immigration standards to ensure national safety.
Edlow did hint that this review may align with a prior announcement concerning a comprehensive examination of refugees admitted under President Biden's tenure.
Furthermore, on Wednesday, USCIS made a decisive move to halt processing all immigration requests from Afghans while they review existing security and vetting protocols.
