The United States government has begun a sweeping re-evaluation of green cards issued to immigrants from 19 countries classified as “countries of concern,” following a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C., that intensified political pressure on the Trump administration to tighten immigration security checks.
The directive, announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), represents one of the most extensive immigration reviews in recent years, targeting thousands of lawful permanent residents from conflict-prone or politically fragile nations. The review comes after an Afghan national was arrested in connection with the ambush-style shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
What Triggered the Review
According to U.S. authorities, the attack carried out near the heavily guarded federal district prompted urgent national discussions on vetting procedures for immigrants granted permanent residency. The suspect, who previously entered the U.S. through a humanitarian pathway, had reportedly been on the radar of intelligence agencies, raising questions about loopholes in the vetting process.
President Donald Trump ordered an immediate reassessment of all green cards linked to the designated countries, describing the move as “a national security necessity.” The administration also halted new immigration and asylum applications from some of these nations pending further review.
The list comprises countries that historically experienced U.S. visa restrictions, sanctions, terrorism concerns, or documentation reliability issues. The countries include:
Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Eritrea, Myanmar, Chad, Haiti, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, and others previously subjected to heightened vetting or partial entry bans.
Many immigrants from these regions currently live as permanent residents in the U.S., some for decades.
USCIS confirmed that the review will reexamine the backgrounds, travel history, and security status of green card holders from the affected countries. The agency also stated that it will apply “new country-specific negative factors,” such as the inability of governments to provide verifiable identity documents or reliable criminal records.
Immigration lawyers warn that this could lead to:
- Lengthy background checks
- Delayed green card renewals
- Potential revocation of permanent residency
- Legal battles over due process and discrimination
For some affected immigrants, the move could disrupt employment, travel, and paths to citizenship.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that the review is necessary to close gaps in the vetting process. Officials say that the shooting exposed vulnerabilities, particularly among individuals who entered through humanitarian, asylum, or special immigration visas.
The administration argues that certain countries do not maintain reliable biometric systems, making verification difficult. The review therefore aims to reassess whether residency holders continue to meet security thresholds.
Civil rights groups, immigration advocates, and several lawmakers have condemned the directive as discriminatory and overly broad. Critics argue that policies based on nationality rather than individual conduct violate constitutional principles and could unfairly punish innocent residents.
Advocacy groups also warn that such sweeping reviews historically lead to profiling, fear within immigrant communities, and the potential separation of families.
Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are expected to mount legal challenges, calling the review an attempt to revive aspects of the old “Muslim ban.”
The decision has intensified existing political divisions over U.S. immigration policies:
- Republican leaders argue the review is essential after the Washington attack and accuse previous administrations of “weak vetting.”
- Democrats call it a “blanket crackdown” that weaponizes national security concerns to justify exclusionary immigration policies.
Experts say the move may also strain diplomatic relations with the affected countries, some of which rely heavily on diaspora communities.
The U.S. has seen record immigration backlogs in the last two years, and this review could worsen delays across the system. Analysts warn of potential humanitarian consequences, especially for migrants fleeing conflict zones who now face new restrictions or indefinite processing delays.
Countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan, and Yemen already dealing with political instability may see increased pressure on refugees unable to secure safe relocation pathways.
The U.S. government says the review will be “systematic and comprehensive,” but officials have not provided a timeline. Immigration attorneys recommend that green card holders from the affected countries avoid unnecessary international travel until the situation becomes clearer.
USCIS is expected to release additional guidelines in the coming weeks, including criteria for potential revocations and procedures for legal appeals.
