US President Donald Trump has ordered a federal review of asylum approvals and Green Cards linked to applicants from 19 countries classified as high-risk. The directive follows a shooting incident in Washington DC that left two National Guard soldiers critically injured.
Review Targets Biden-Era Refugee and Asylum Cases
Federal agencies confirmed a full reassessment of asylum approvals issued during the Biden administration between January 2021 and February 2025.
According to an internal memo, individuals in this group may be required to undergo new interviews and updated security screening.
Processing of permanent residency applications for these cases is paused while the review is carried out.
Green Card Holders From 19 Countries Included
The new order includes a separate review of Green Cards already issued to citizens from 19 identified high-risk countries.
Officials said immigration officers will be allowed to consider country of origin as a negative factor during evaluation.
Countries on the review list include Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Libya, Somalia, Venezuela, Sudan, Yemen and others.
Link to Washington DC Shooting
Officials said the policy shift was triggered by the arrest of 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, accused of shooting two National Guard servicemembers near a DC Metro station.
Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome resettlement program that assisted Afghans following the US withdrawal from Kabul.
Stricter Vetting Rules Announced
Alongside the review directive, processing of new Afghan applications has been temporarily halted.
Updated guidelines require officers to apply enhanced background checks, including expanded security database searches and additional identity verification steps.
Borderline cases may be referred to national security units for further determination.
Criticism From Advocacy Groups
Immigration and civil liberties organisations say the directive risks applying collective punishment and may cause uncertainty for long-term residents.
Advocates argue many affected individuals already completed multiple rounds of vetting before receiving asylum or permanent residency.
Legal experts say the directive could face court challenges on equal protection grounds.
Political Context
Supporters of the directive say the measures strengthen national security and review gaps created during previous processing.
Critics say the action represents a return to restrictive policies similar to earlier travel bans and nationality-based immigration controls.
Background The 19-country list aligns with earlier federal classifications related to security risk and document reliability.
The directive comes as the administration continues to prioritise tightened border controls, expanded vetting and revised refugee intake policies.
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