US President Donald Trump has directed a sweeping review of asylum approvals made under former President Joe Biden and Green Cards issued to nationals of 19 countries, Homeland Security officials announced on Thursday. The decision follows new federal guidance tightening immigration screening standards after an Afghan national shot two National Guard members near the White House on November 26.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the revised policy allows officers to weigh an applicant’s home country as a significant negative factor when considering immigration benefits. He argued the changes were needed to restore rigorous vetting procedures. “American lives come first,” Edlow said.
The affected countries mirror those listed in Trump’s June presidential proclamation imposing partial or full entry suspensions. They include Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Burma, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Sudan, Venezuela and others.
Officials said the updated guidance directly responds to the shooting involving Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the US under Operation Allies Welcome in 2021. The policy instructs officers to examine factors such as the integrity of an applicant’s identity documents and the ability of their home country to support background checks.
The guidance takes immediate effect and applies to all pending and newly filed requests. The attack has intensified debate over the Trump administration’s deployment of troops in US cities and its broader approach to crime and immigration enforcement.
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