The Trump administration has introduced a “full-scale, rigorous reexamination” of Inexperienced Playing cards issued to immigrants in these designated “nations of concern,” in a significant coverage shift following the capturing of two Nationwide Guard service members by an Afghan nationwide close to the White Home.
The directive was confirmed right now by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, who stated the motion was taken on the request of U.S. President Donald Trump.
“On the course of @POTUS, I’ve directed a full-scale, rigorous reexamination of each Inexperienced Card for each alien from each nation of concern,” Edlow wrote in a put up on X, previously Twitter. He added that safety of the American individuals “stays paramount” and sharply criticized the earlier administration for having “reckless resettlement insurance policies.”
On the course of @POTUS, I’ve directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of each Inexperienced Card for each alien from each nation of concern.
— USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow (@USCISJoe) November 27, 2025
Incident That Triggered The Coverage
The coverage change comes within the wake of a tragic incident on Wednesday close to the White Home:
The Assault: Afghan nationwide Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened hearth, placing two Nationwide Guard service members. U.S. Military specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed and U.S. Air Pressure Employees Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, stays in important situation.
Perpetrator’s Standing: Lakanwal initially entered the U.S. in 2021 as a part of an evacuation and resettlement program instituted underneath the Joe Biden administration following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Subsequently, his asylum standing was granted after Trump had already assumed the presidency.
Who Will Be Affected By The Crackdown?
New coverage steerage will permit USCIS officers to think about country-specific elements as they evaluation immigration requests, significantly within the case of 19 designated ‘high-risk nations.
International locations of Concern: The nations included within the checklist are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Impact on Indians: The crackdown on Inexperienced Card holders could have no bearing on Indians residing in the USA since India shouldn’t be one of many nations of concern. The brand new coverage steerage is efficient instantly and applies to all immigration requests pending or filed on or after Nov. 27. Inexperienced Playing cards, or Everlasting Residence Playing cards, grant holders authorized resident standing and a path to U.S. citizenship.
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