Trump Administration Orders Sweeping Review of Green Cards for Immigrants from 19 'Countries of Concern' Amid National Security Push

Washington, D.C. — November 28, 2025

The Trump administration announced Thursday a comprehensive reexamination of every green card held by lawful permanent residents from 19 nations deemed "countries of concern," citing national security risks exposed by a deadly shooting targeting National Guard members in the nation's capital.

The directive, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, mandates a "full-scale, rigorous reexamination" of all such green cards, affecting potentially tens of thousands of immigrants who have built lives in the United States.

The announcement comes on the heels of Wednesday's shocking ambush in Washington, D.C., where two West Virginia National Guard members—Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24—were gunned down in what authorities described as a targeted attack.

Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries Thursday morning, while Wolfe remains in critical condition, according to a White House briefing.

The suspect, identified as an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome refugee program, was arrested at the scene. Federal prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia, are probing the man's immigration history and the vetting processes that facilitated his entry.

President Trump, addressing reporters from the Oval Office, framed the incident as a stark illustration of "reckless resettlement policies" from the prior administration, vowing to "reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden."

He went further, declaring an intent to "permanently pause migration from all Third World countries" and terminate "millions of Biden illegal admissions," including those purportedly signed via "Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen."

Trump also called for the denaturalization of migrants who "undermine domestic tranquility" and the deportation of any foreign national deemed a "public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization."

USCIS has already taken immediate action: Processing of all immigration requests from Afghan nationals was suspended indefinitely Wednesday night, pending a broader review of "security and vetting protocols."

An estimated 85,000 Afghans were resettled in the U.S. following the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, many initially housed at military bases before integration into communities nationwide.

The 19 countries targeted in the green card review were outlined in a June 4 presidential proclamation aimed at curbing entry from nations "deficient with regards to screening and vetting."

Officials cited factors including high visa overstay rates, inadequate cooperation on deportations, weak identity documentation systems, and elevated terrorism threats. The full list includes:

Country	Key Concerns Noted
Afghanistan	Security risks, vetting deficiencies
Burma (Myanmar)	Political instability, overstay rates
Burundi	Documentation issues
Chad	Terrorism threats
Cuba	Non-cooperation on removals
Republic of the Congo	Vetting weaknesses
Equatorial Guinea	Identity document insecurity
Eritrea	Overstay and security concerns
Haiti	Documentation and vetting gaps
Iran	National security threats
Laos	Limited cooperation
Libya	Terrorism and instability
Sierra Leone	Overstay rates
Somalia	Security and vetting deficiencies
Sudan	Terrorism risks
Togo	Documentation issues
Turkmenistan	Vetting weaknesses
Venezuela	Political crisis, overstay rates
Yemen	Terrorism and instability

During the review, USCIS will incorporate "negative, country-specific factors" such as a nation's ability to issue secure identity documents, potentially leading to revocations or heightened scrutiny for affected green card holders.

The agency has not specified a timeline but indicated the process could span months, involving interviews, background checks, and possible appeals.The move has ignited fierce debate. Supporters, including Trump allies, hail it as a necessary safeguard for American safety, with the president lamenting the presence of "20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners" as "a risk to our very survival."

Critics, including immigrant rights groups and Democratic lawmakers, decry it as discriminatory overreach, targeting long-term residents based on their birthplace rather than individual conduct. "This isn't security—it's scapegoating," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in a statement. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) vowed to challenge the policy in court, arguing it violates due process.This is the latest in a series of Trump-era immigration restrictions, following a review of all refugees admitted under former President Joe Biden and renewed travel bans.