Trump administration orders "rigorous reexamination" of all green cards for every immigrant from "a country of concern"
In a dramatic escalation of its immigration policies, the Trump administration on Thursday announced a "full-scale, rigorous reexamination" of all green cards issued to immigrants hailing from a designated list of "countries of concern." The sweeping directive, confirmed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, comes directly at the request of President Trump, following a harrowing ambush-style shooting in Washington, D.C., that resulted in the death of a National Guard member and left another critically wounded. The suspect in the attack, an Afghan national, has ignited a fierce debate over national security and immigration vetting processes.
The tragic events unfolded on Wednesday near the White House, where Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, both members of the West Virginia National Guard, were targeted in a sudden and brutal assault. President Trump, addressing reporters on Thursday, confirmed the devastating news that Spc. Beckstrom had succumbed to her injuries. Staff Sgt. Wolfe remains in critical condition, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, highlighting the severity of the attack that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital.
Authorities identified the alleged assailant as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated during the Biden administration to resettle Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Lakanwal was apprehended after being shot by a National Guard member, effectively ending the attack. He now faces three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, along with charges for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. These charges, U.S. Attorney Pirro noted, could evolve depending on the condition of the surviving guard member. Adding a layer of complexity to Lakanwal’s background, the CIA confirmed Thursday that he had previously worked with the agency in Afghanistan, a detail that is likely to fuel further scrutiny of vetting procedures for individuals with ties to U.S. intelligence operations abroad.
The "countries of concern" list, confirmed by two Homeland Security officials speaking to CBS News, comprises 19 nations. This extensive list includes Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Venezuela, among others. These nations are typically identified based on various criteria, including perceived risks of terrorism, instability, high rates of irregular migration, or strained diplomatic relations with the U.S. The reexamination order targets individuals who have already been granted lawful permanent residency (green cards), a status typically considered a significant step towards full integration into American society and eventual citizenship.
The scope of this "rigorous reexamination" is unprecedented. While the U.S. government maintains the authority to revoke green cards under specific circumstances, such as fraud in the application process or conviction of certain crimes, a blanket review based solely on country of origin for already-approved residents represents a significant departure from standard immigration enforcement. Legal experts anticipate that such a broad directive could face immediate legal challenges on grounds of due process, discrimination, and potential overreach of executive authority. Immigrant rights organizations are expected to vociferously condemn the move, arguing it will foster an environment of fear and uncertainty for thousands of law-abiding residents.
Adding a pointed political dimension to the controversy, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement to CBS News on Thursday, asserting that the agency is now reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration. McLaughlin’s statement appeared to shift blame for Lakanwal’s asylum approval onto a Biden-era court settlement that mandated expedited processing for Afghan asylum cases. This claim is particularly contentious given that Lakanwal’s asylum case was granted earlier this year, during Mr. Trump’s term in office, despite his initial entry under the previous administration. The intricacies of the asylum process, which can take years to adjudicate, mean that applications filed under one administration may only be finalized under another, creating fertile ground for political finger-pointing.
This latest directive is not an isolated incident but rather fits into a broader pattern of intensified immigration scrutiny under the Trump administration. Earlier this month, the administration had already ordered an unprecedented review and rescreening of all refugees admitted to the U.S. under the Biden administration. That initiative aimed to identify any potential disqualifying factors that might prevent them from remaining in the country. The current reexamination of green card holders from "countries of concern" represents a significant expansion of this policy, signaling a more aggressive stance on immigration enforcement across the board.
In the immediate aftermath of the D.C. shooting, the Trump administration also swiftly announced a pause on all immigration processing requests from Afghan nationals. This unilateral action effectively halts new applications for visas, asylum, and other immigration benefits for individuals from Afghanistan, impacting countless families and individuals seeking to join relatives or find safety in the U.S. Approximately 85,000 Afghans were settled in the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome following the 2021 withdrawal, many of whom were initially housed at military bases and underwent processing before being resettled across the country. The program, designed to provide refuge for those who aided U.S. efforts or were at risk from the Taliban, is now under intense scrutiny.
President Trump himself addressed the nation in a video posted on social media Wednesday night, unequivocally condemning the shooting as an "act of evil and an act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity." His remarks underscored the administration’s resolve to crack down on perceived threats originating from immigration. Furthermore, he explicitly vowed to "reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden," promising to "take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country." This rhetoric, often heard during his campaigns and previous term, emphasizes a transactional view of immigration, where an immigrant’s value is weighed against perceived national security risks or economic contributions.
In a move that highlighted the administration’s broader concerns, Mr. Trump also pivoted to discussing Somali immigrants in Minnesota during his statement, drawing a connection between the D.C. shooting and other immigrant communities. This rhetorical tactic suggests an attempt to broaden the narrative of threat beyond the immediate incident and link it to various immigrant groups, a strategy often employed to galvanize his political base.
The legal and logistical challenges of implementing such a wide-ranging reexamination are immense. USCIS, the agency tasked with conducting these reviews, would need to allocate substantial resources to meticulously re-vet thousands of individuals, potentially requiring new interviews, updated background checks, and detailed investigations into original application documents. The due process rights of green card holders, including the right to legal representation and a fair hearing, would need to be carefully observed, adding layers of complexity to any potential revocation proceedings.
For immigrants from the 19 "countries of concern," the order immediately creates an atmosphere of anxiety and apprehension. Many have built lives, careers, and families in the U.S. under the assumption of permanent residency. The threat of having their green cards revoked, even years after being granted, introduces an unprecedented level of insecurity. Advocates fear that such a policy could lead to wrongful deportations, separate families, and undermine the fundamental principle of due process in immigration law.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the D.C. shooting and the profound implications of this new policy, the tension between national security imperatives and the rights of immigrants is set to intensify. The Trump administration’s directive signals a clear intention to prioritize what it perceives as national security above all else, even if it means revisiting the immigration status of thousands of individuals who have already established legal residency in the United States. The coming weeks and months will likely see heated legal battles, widespread protests, and a deepening national debate over the future of American immigration policy.
Nicole Sganga contributed to this report.
