The Department of Homeland Security has launched a sweeping review of all green cards issued to immigrants from so-called “countries of concern” after a shooting near the White House left two National Guard members critically injured.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph B. Edlow announced the directive on Thursday, citing heightened national security concerns.
“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,” Edlow wrote on X.
“The protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount, and the American people will not bear the cost of the prior administration’s reckless resettlement policies,” he added, calling American safety “non-negotiable.”
Why the Review Was Ordered
The decision follows Wednesday’s shooting of two members of the West Virginia National Guard — Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24 — while they were on patrol near a metro station in Washington, D.C.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under humanitarian parole and was granted asylum in 2025 during the Trump administration. His application for a green card was still pending at the time of the attack.
Policy Dispute Over Refugees and Asylum
Officials in the Trump administration contend that the Biden White House misused refugee and asylum channels during a period of record migration, particularly along the southern border.
According to DHS, the refugee program is now under full review. Those found to have been admitted improperly could see their status revoked. Authorities say Lakanwal is among roughly 76,000 Afghans brought to the United States in 2021 after the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s return to power.
Asked why Lakanwal remained in the United States, a senior DHS official pointed to the policies in effect at the time.
“This Afghan national was paroled in by the Biden administration,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek on Thursday. “After that, Biden signed into law that parole program, and then entered into the 2023 Ahmed Court Settlement, which bound USCIS to adjudicate his asylum claim on an expedited basis.”
Following the attack, USCIS announced it would indefinitely suspend processing of immigration requests “relating to Afghan nationals” while security and vetting protocols are reassessed.
Changes to the Refugee Program
As part of its broader shift on immigration, the administration has significantly reduced refugee admissions, capping the annual total at about 7,500. In its latest guidance for fiscal year 2026, the administration allocated most of those slots to white South Africans, citing claims of persecution.
On Tuesday, reports emerged that officials had begun a large-scale review of roughly 233,000 refugees admitted between 2021 and 2025. A memo reviewed by Reuters calls for reexamining and, in some cases, re-interviewing those refugees amid concerns that earlier vetting emphasized speed over security. Refugee status could be revoked for individuals found not to meet statutory requirements, Reuters reported.
Under U.S. law, refugees are generally required to apply for a green card one year after arriving in the country and may be eligible to apply for citizenship after five years.
Official Reactions
In a statement on X, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said:
“Coming to America and receiving a visa or green card is a privilege. Our laws and values must be respected. If you advocate for violence, endorse or support terrorist activity, or encourage others to do so, you are no longer eligible to stay in the U.S.”
McLaughlin also told Newsweek: “Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The Trump Administration is also reviewing all asylum cases approved under the Biden Administration, which failed to vet these applicants on a massive scale.”
What Comes Next in the Case
Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said the suspect currently faces charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Pirro added that it is “too soon to say” what the suspect’s motives were, noting that the investigation is ongoing.
