The Trump administration has initiated a comprehensive review of Green Cards for individuals from specific “countries of concern.” This significant policy shift follows a recent shooting incident near the White House where an Afghan national injured two National Guard members. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed the directive, stating it was at President Trump’s request. The review aims to re-examine every Green Card issued to aliens from these designated nations, with Edlow emphasizing that protecting Americans is the top priority and criticizing past “reckless resettlement policies.” The new guidance allows USCIS officials to consider country-specific risks when evaluating immigration applications. The list of 19 ‘high-risk countries’ includes Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, and Yemen, among others. Notably, this crackdown will not affect Indian citizens as India is not on the list. This policy is effective immediately for all pending and new immigration requests.
