The Trump administration has announced a rigorous review of US green cards held by nationals from 19 designated 'countries of concern', placing the permanent residency status of thousands of migrants in potential jeopardy.
Which Countries Are Targeted?
On November 28, 2025, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the direction of President Donald Trump, revealed plans to reexamine all permanent residence cards issued to foreigners from a specific list of nations. The countries believed to be affected are those listed in a June proclamation by Trump that outlined immigration restrictions.
The full list of countries includes: Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Official Justification and Context
USCIS chief Joseph Edlow stated that his department would conduct a 'rigorous' reexamination of documents. He took to the social media platform X to declare that 'the protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount'. He further asserted that the American people would not bear the cost of the prior administration's what he termed 'reckless resettlement policies', emphasising that 'American safety is non-negotiable'.
This significant policy shift follows a recent incident where two National Guard soldiers were allegedly shot and injured by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. Lakanwal, who is now in custody, arrived in the US in 2021 under a protection scheme following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover. In response to this event, Trump blamed the admission of '20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners' by the Biden administration, stating that 'No country can tolerate such a risk to our very survival'.
What This Means for Green Card Holders
A green card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, grants foreign nationals the right to live and work indefinitely in the United States. While the specific procedures of the reexamination remain unclear, the announcement has created widespread uncertainty for affected individuals.
In a separate but related move, the USCIS has also launched a review of all citizens who were granted refugee status under President Joe Biden. Furthermore, all new immigration requests from Afghanistan have been suspended by the agency.
The latest development signals a major tightening of US immigration policy, directly impacting holders of permanent residency from the listed nations and potentially setting the stage for large-scale revocations.
