Following the Washington D.C. National Guard shooting, the U.S. orders a sweeping re-examination of permanent residents’ status from 19 flagged countries.
Background: What Happened in Washington, D.C.?
A deadly shooting near the White House on November 26, 2025, triggered a nationwide security review.
- A 29-year-old Afghan national opened fire on two National Guard soldiers on duty.
- One soldier died, and the other remains in critical condition.
- The attacker had come to the US under a resettlement program in 2021 and later received asylum this year.
- Officials described the incident as a terror-motivated attack, leading to sharp criticism of existing vetting procedures.
This single event led to immediate policy action at the national level.
What the New Order Includes
The US government has now directed immigration authorities to:
- Re-examine every Green Card issued to people from 19 countries listed as “nations of concern.”
- Apply tighter checks on all future Green Card and asylum applications from these countries.
- Review older cases using the same strict standards that will apply to new applicants.
Officials say the decision is meant to prevent security lapses connected to immigration processing.
Countries Affected
The government has not released the full list publicly, but it includes countries already part of earlier travel restrictions—such as:
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Somalia
- Syria
- Myanmar
- Venezuela
…and additional nationalities that U.S. authorities had previously classified as security-sensitive.
Impact on Immigrants
People from the affected countries may face:
- Re-interviews
- Updated background checks
- Requests for new documents
- Possible delays or suspensions in processing
- In rare cases, risk of losing permanent residency if major discrepancies are found
Immigration officers have begun contacting some Green Card holders for re-verification.
Government’s Reasoning
Officials say the review is necessary because:
- The attacker was from a country already on the “concern” list.
- Current processes may not have caught past risks.
- Updating security checks across older and newer applications will ensure consistency.
The administration has stated that the move is about “national security, not discrimination.”
Criticism and Concerns
Human rights groups and legal experts have raised several concerns:
- Reviews based on nationality may be seen as collective punishment.
- Families who have lived in the US for years could face uncertainty.
- Many fear delays in travel, employment, and residency renewals.
- Civil-rights groups may challenge the policy in court.
Despite criticism, the government says the reviews will continue.
What Happens Next
- USCIS will continue verifying documents of Green Card holders from the listed countries.
- Processing of asylum cases from these regions will face stricter scrutiny.
- Several advocacy groups are preparing legal challenges.
- Immigrants are advised to keep all documents updated and respond quickly to USCIS notices.
