Trump Orders Full Review of Green Cards After Attack That Left Two Officers in Critical Condition

U.S. will review Green Cards

Migrants under strict scrutiny

Attack triggers new policy

According to the EFE news agency, the U.S. government announced a rigorous review of Green Cards for migrants coming from countries of concern following the shooting that left two officers critically wounded.

Joseph B. Edlow, director of USCIS, stated that the measure was ordered directly by President Donald Trump and will be carried out broadly and exhaustively.

The announcement did not specify which countries are included, although the review will cover all Green Cards issued to foreign nationals originating from regions considered high-risk by authorities — an expanded step in the Green Card security review.

The decision was prompted after Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal was identified as the suspected attacker in the shooting near the White House, which left two officers in critical condition.

Trump’s Order to Review Green Cards and USCIS Response

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.

— USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow (@USCISJoe) November 27, 2025

One day before the announcement, the government had already suspended immigration applications from Afghan citizens — a decision made minutes after a message from Trump to the nation.

Trump blamed the immigration policies of former President Joe Biden for allowing Lakanwal’s entry into the country, directly linking the violent incident to failures in previous resettlement operations.

In his message, Trump called the attack an act of hatred and promised stricter measures against Afghan nationals attempting to enter the U.S.

USCIS reiterated that national security is non-negotiable and that Americans should not bear the consequences of what the administration considers reckless immigration policies.

U.S. to Review Green Cards From Flagged Countries

Trump Orders Full Review of Green Cards After Attack – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Although USCIS did not publicly detail the updated list of countries, Trump had previously banned entry to citizens from twelve nations citing national security concerns.

The list included Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additional limitations were placed on citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela under similar immigration justifications.

The new Green Card review aligns with these prior policies, expanding screening to reduce risks associated with migration from countries considered dangerous — extending the scope of the Green Card security review.

Previous Restrictions and Impacted Countries

U.S. to review Green Cards after Washington attack — PHOTO: EFE

Authorities also identified the critically injured officers as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, both members of the U.S. National Guard.

The officers unfortunately passed away following the shooting near the White House, an incident that caused shock across security agencies.

The suspected attacker lived with his wife and five children in Washington state, from where he drove to the nation’s capital.

His travel highlighted the absence of prior alerts that could have prevented his movement, raising questions about monitoring systems and vetting procedures.

U.S. to Review Green Cards as Shooting Investigation Continues

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that Lakanwal previously worked for a military unit backed by the CIA during U.S. operations in Afghanistan before relocating.

Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program, created to support Afghan nationals after the U.S. military withdrawal.

This background sparked debate over the vetting procedures used within the program, especially after his prior connections to intelligence-backed units became public.

The Green Card review emerges as a governmental response to concerns raised by the attack, prompting renewed evaluations of resettlement programs and national security protocols.

Allies Program and Suspect Background

Federal authorities stated they will continue investigating the attack to determine operational failures that allowed the suspect to reach an area near the White House.

The incident has had broad political and social impact, intensifying national discussions on immigration, security, and monitoring processes applied to applicants from countries deemed high-risk.

The USCIS announcement is already causing concern among migrant communities who fear widespread consequences from the mass review of Green Cards.

Official updates are expected in the coming days to clarify specific procedures, including criteria and timelines for implementing the announced review.