The Trump administration has initiated a comprehensive review of all green card holders from nations designated as security concerns, marking one of the most extensive immigration policy actions undertaken by the federal government in recent years.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow announced the directive Thursday afternoon, stating that President Trump had ordered a complete reexamination of every permanent resident visa holder from countries the administration has identified as deficient in screening and vetting procedures.
“Protecting the country remains paramount,” Edlow stated, adding that “the American people will not bear the cost of the prior administration’s reckless resettlement policies.”
The review encompasses green card holders from nineteen nations specifically identified in a presidential proclamation issued in June. Among the countries listed are Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, and Venezuela. These nations have been determined by the administration to lack adequate screening and vetting capabilities for individuals seeking entry to the United States.
The timing of this announcement carries particular significance. It follows closely on the heels of a shooting incident near the White House that claimed the life of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, age twenty, and left another guardsman, twenty-four-year-old Andrew Wolfe, in critical condition. Both service members had been deployed to Washington as part of the administration’s federal troop deployment to multiple American cities.
Federal prosecutors have identified the suspect in that shooting as an Afghan national who previously provided assistance to American forces. The individual was resettled in the United States during the Biden administration through Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to relocate Afghan allies following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The scope of this review represents a substantial undertaking for USCIS, which will need to examine potentially thousands of cases. Green card holders, also known as lawful permanent residents, possess the legal right to live and work in the United States indefinitely and are on a pathway to potential citizenship.
The administration has not yet detailed the specific criteria that will be applied during the reexamination process, nor has it indicated what actions might be taken against individuals whose green cards are deemed problematic upon review. Questions remain about the legal framework under which such a sweeping review would operate and what due process protections will be afforded to those affected.
This development underscores the administration’s commitment to what it characterizes as enhanced national security measures. It also reflects ongoing tensions regarding immigration policies implemented by the previous administration, particularly those related to refugee resettlement and the expedited processing of Afghan nationals who aided American military operations.
The facts of this matter are clear: the federal government has embarked upon a significant review of legal immigration status for individuals from specific nations. How this review proceeds, and what consequences may result, remains to be seen.
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