Following the attack on two National Guard soldiers in the United States, the Trump administration launched a review of green cards and asylum applications linked to countries deemed sensitive.

The United States has undertaken a major tightening of immigration policies following the attack that targeted two National Guard members in Washington. The Trump administration ordered a systematic review of all green cards (a visa for permanent resident status) issued to nationals from countries classified as high-risk, a list that includes Afghanistan, Iran, Cuba, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Venezuela.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed that its director, Joseph Edlow, had received presidential instructions to resume in-depth screening of every permanent resident from these countries. The agency referred to a list of 19 states identified in a previously issued presidential proclamation. According to CBS, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that this measure is part of a much broader review of immigration and asylum programs approved under previous administrations.

Towards a complete overhaul of asylum policies

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also launched a review of all asylum applications approved under the Biden administration, while a similar audit is already underway for refugees admitted before the presidential transition. The Trump administration also temporarily suspended all new applications for Afghan nationals, a population of approximately 85,000 who arrived in the United States after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Kabul. The stated objective is to identify potential security flaws in the admission systems, as refugees and asylum seekers fall under the same legal definition but have different entry pathways.

In a video message shared on social media, Donald Trump, who described the attack as a crime against the nation, announced a desire to review every immigration case linked to Afghanistan since 2021. He also stated that any foreigner who, in his opinion, does not make a positive contribution to the country should be deported if necessary, extending his remarks to migrants from other sensitive regions such as Somalia.

An attack that reignites the migration debate

These decisions come after Wednesday's attack near the White House, where two members of the West Virginia National Guard were seriously wounded in an ambush. They are Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, who remain hospitalized in critical condition. The identified suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan man who arrived in the United States in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome.

He reportedly worked with the CIA in Afghanistan before being admitted to the United States under humanitarian status. His asylum claim was approved this year, after President Trump had already returned to office. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), however, believes his admission stemmed from a judicial agreement dating back to the Biden administration, which mandated expedited processing of Afghan asylum claims. The suspect now faces charges of three counts of assault with intent to kill, as well as possession of a firearm in connection with a violent crime.