Joseph Edlow, the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has announced a thorough examination of green card applications for foreign nationals from certain countries.
This announcement came on Wednesday, following the heartbreaking incident where two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C. One of them succumbed to injuries. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Rakanwal, is a 29-year-old Afghan national who collaborated with the CIA in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and entered the U.S. under the previous administration’s Operation Welcome Allies. He lives in Washington state and reportedly drove extensively to carry out the shooting.
On Thanksgiving Day, Edlow shared on social media:in the direction of @POTUSI have initiated a serious and thorough review of all green cards for foreign nationals from various countries of concern.
“Protecting our nation and the American people is our primary focus, and we won’t let the costs of the last administration’s irrefutably reckless resettlement policies fall on American citizens. The security of America is paramount,” he added.
The day before, USCIS had also declared a suspension on processing all immigration applications involving Afghan nationals while they reassess security and vetting protocols.
“Our mission is solely centered on safeguarding our homeland and the American populace,” he stated.
This development follows remarks from former President Trump, who recently stated that “reverse immigration” is the solution to the ongoing immigration issues. He pointed out that the foreign population in the United States stands at 53 million according to the Census, many of whom, he claims, come from backgrounds involving welfare dependency, criminality, or instability.
Trump expressed concern that these individuals and their families are financially supported by American citizens who, despite their goodwill, feel overwhelmed by what’s happening in the country. He remarked that they’ve been taken advantage of.
Ultimately, Trump called for the complete cessation of immigration from all third-world nations to restore the American system and stop what he termed the illegal entry into the U.S. under the current administration. His statements included intentions to end U.S. citizenship for those he believes pose a threat to domestic harmony, denaturalize immigrants compromising societal peace, and expel those incompatible with Western values.
