The United States government has announced a comprehensive reexamination of all green cards issued to nationals from 19 designated "countries of concern," with Nigeria notably exempt from this sweeping immigration review.
Trump Administration's Immigration Crackdown Intensifies
This significant policy shift comes directly from President Donald Trump, following the recent shooting incident in Washington, DC that involved two National Guard members. The directive represents a substantial escalation in the administration's ongoing efforts to tighten immigration controls.
Joe Edlow, the director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), made the announcement public through his official X account, stating: "At the direction of @POTUS, I have directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern."
Countries Targeted and Nigeria's Exemption Status
The 19 nations identified as "countries of concern" in this review include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Notably, Nigeria—which was recently classified as a Country of Particular Concern by the Trump administration—has been excluded from this current green card reexamination process. This exemption comes despite Nigeria's previous designation, highlighting the selective nature of this immigration enforcement action.
USCIS officials clarified in a subsequent statement that the enhanced vetting process will now incorporate "negative, country specific factors" for immigrants from these designated nations. These factors include assessments of a country's capacity to "issue secure identity documents" to its citizens.
Connection to Recent Security Incident
The administration's immigration crackdown gained renewed urgency after authorities identified the suspect in the Washington, DC shooting as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national. This development prompted immediate and far-reaching changes to immigration processing.
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary, announced that "Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols."
McLaughlin further emphasized the administration's broader objectives, stating: "The Trump Administration is also reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden Administration."
Background of Shooting Suspect
The identified suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had previously collaborated with US government agencies, including the CIA, during American operations in Afghanistan. He entered the United States in 2021 through the Biden administration's "Operation Allies Welcome" program, which facilitated the relocation of Afghans who had assisted US interests.
Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024, and his application was approved by the Trump administration in April 2025. This timeline has raised questions about the vetting procedures for individuals arriving through special immigration programs.
Reaction from Afghan Community
The Alliance of Afghan Communities in the United States responded to the incident with a carefully worded statement that condemned the shooting while expressing deep concern about potential repercussions for the broader Afghan immigrant community.
The alliance's statement argued that "A single individual's crime must not jeopardize or obstruct the legal cases of thousands of deserving Afghans who meet all U.S. legal requirements." They called upon federal agencies to continue processing Afghan immigrant applications without unnecessary delays.
According to State Department statistics, more than 190,000 Afghans have resettled in the United States since the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Understanding Green Card vs. Refugee Status
While a green card grants lawful permanent residency in the United States, it differs significantly from refugee and asylum programs—which the current administration has already sought to restrict. However, refugees are typically required to apply for green cards after completing one year of residency in the country.
This distinction becomes particularly relevant as the administration continues to refine its immigration enforcement strategies, balancing security concerns with humanitarian considerations.
