Trump Administration’s Review of Green Card Holders
The Trump administration has announced a thorough assessment of all green card holders from nations deemed “of concern,” in light of the recent shooting involving two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Secretary, Joseph Edlow, President Trump is pushing for an extensive review that will likely focus on green card holders from at least 19 different countries.
The suspect in the National Guard shooting, Rahmanullah Rakanwal, 29, arrived in the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, through the “Operation Welcoming Allies” program that followed the chaotic withdrawal by the Biden administration.
“The safety of this country and its citizens is our foremost concern. We cannot let the American public pay the price for the prior administration’s hasty resettlement policies. America’s security is absolute,” Edlow expressed on X.
The countries identified as “of concern” broadly align with those mentioned in a past speech by President Trump, as outlined in a June Executive Order aimed at safeguarding Americans from potential foreign threats. These countries include Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iran, Libya, and a few others.
A green card grants foreign immigrants permanent residency and the ability to work in the U.S. Since the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, over 190,000 Afghans have reportedly been relocated to the country, according to data from the State Department.
After beginning his second term, President Trump sought to stop the resettlement of Afghan refugees and subsequently limited travel from Afghanistan. Recently, his administration announced an indefinite halt to processing all immigration applications for Afghan nationals as a precautionary measure for security vetting.
Rakanwal, who previously served in Afghanistan’s NDS-03 counterterrorism unit, had ties with U.S. intelligence, which significantly contributed to his acceptance into the U.S. He applied for asylum in December 2024, and his application was sanctioned by the Trump administration in April of this year.
Authorities reported that Rakanwal had traveled to Washington, D.C., living with his wife and five children, leading up to the ambush. On Thursday, he allegedly shot and killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, from the West Virginia National Guard, and seriously injured another soldier, Andrew Wolfe, 24.
Rakanwal suffered injuries from return fire by the National Guard but is currently recovering. He faces multiple charges, including assault with intent to kill, which could result in a sentence of up to 15 years.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, indicated that Rakanwal could face charges of murder, with Attorney General Pam Bondi confirming that the prosecution would seek the death penalty.
President Trump has also mentioned that his team is evaluating the possibility of deporting Rakanwal’s family. “We’re assessing the whole situation. It’s truly a tragic event,” he remarked during a press briefing.
