The Trump administration has announced a sweeping review of Green Cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern” following the deadly shooting of two National Guard members near the White House by an Afghan national. The move has raised questions for millions of immigrants especially Indians living in the United States.
Will Indians Be Affected?
No.
India is not on the list of countries facing the new restrictions or enhanced Green Card scrutiny. The Trump administration has not added India to its “countries of concern,” meaning Indians currently in the US or applying for permanent residency will not be impacted by this crackdown.
Why the Crackdown Now?
The decision follows the November 26 shooting in Washington, D.C., where 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fire near the White House.
According to Reuters:
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Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom (20) was killed
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Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe (24) remains in critical condition
The attacker reportedly entered the US in 2021 under a resettlement programme.
What the Trump Administration Announced
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said he had ordered a “full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”
This review includes:
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Reassessing pending Green Card applications
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Re-evaluating previously approved Green Cards for security risk
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Applying stricter vetting and background checks
Edlow said the move was necessary because “American safety is non-negotiable.”
List of 19 Countries Under Enhanced Scrutiny
As per a June 2025 directive, nationals from these 19 countries face restrictions and heightened vetting:
Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela
These countries are considered “high-risk” based on US intelligence assessments, terrorism concerns, or lack of reliable identity verification systems.
Trump’s Broader Immigration Action
Following the White House shooting, Donald Trump announced:
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A permanent suspension of migration from all “Third World countries”
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A halt to federal benefits and subsidies for non-citizens
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New immigration guidance allowing case officers to apply country-specific risk factors
These measures reflect the most far-reaching immigration tightening since Trump returned to office.
