The Department of Homeland Security has ordered a full review of all green cards issued to immigrants from high-risk countries following a shooting near the White House that left two National Guard members critically injured.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph B. Edlow announced the move Thursday, citing 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 posted on X on Thursday.
“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,” Edlow said. “American safety is non negotiable.”
Why It Matters
The announcement 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, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, 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 green card application was still pending.
What To Know
The Trump administration argues that the Biden White House misused refugee and asylum pathways during a period of record migration, particularly along the southern border.
The refugee program is now under full review, and those found to have been admitted improperly may have their status revoked. The man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington is among roughly 76,000 Afghans brought to the United States in 2021 after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal as the Taliban seized control, authorities said.
Earlier in the evening, President Trump said in a speech after the attack that “we must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan.” Following the attack, USCIS said it would indefinitely halt processing “relating to Afghan nationals” until further notice.
As part of its broader immigration shift, the administration has sharply reduced refugee admissions, capping the annual total at around 7,500. In its most recent memo outlining refugee policy for fiscal year 2026, the administration allocated most of those slots to white South Africans, citing persecution claims.
On Tuesday, reports surfaced that the administration had begun a sweeping review of about 233,000 refugees admitted between 2021 and 2025. A Reuters-reviewed memo calls for reexamining and potentially reinterviewing those refugees amid concerns that earlier vetting prioritized speed over security. Refugee status could be revoked for individuals found not to meet statutory requirements, Reuters reported.
Refugees admitted to the United States are generally required to apply for a green card one year after arrival, and may be eligible for U.S. citizenship after five years.
What People Are Saying
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services wrote on X: “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.”
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: “For four straight years, the Biden administration accelerated refugee admissions from terror and gang-prone countries, prioritizing sheer numbers over rigorous vetting and strict adherence to legal requirements. This reckless approach undermined the integrity of our immigration system and jeopardized the safety and security of the American people. Corrective action is now being taken to ensure those who are present in the United States deserve to be here.”
What Happens Next
Jeanine Pirro, the 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 said that “it’s too soon to say” what the suspect’s motives were.
