Green Cards: Fear mounts as Trump orders broad review from 19 nations
Diplomatic Correspondent :
Anxiety is spreading across immigrant communities in the United States as the Trump administration launches a sweeping review of green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries, many of which have long been on Washington’s security watchlist.
Several governments whose citizens are affected have already begun raising concerns, calling for clarity and urging the US to avoid actions that could unfairly target lawful residents.
The new order, confirmed by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) chief Joseph Edlow, follows a direct instruction from President Donald Trump to conduct what he described as “a full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.”
The list is long and includes Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Venezuela, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, and Libya-countries already struggling with conflict, sanctions, or fragile diplomatic ties with Washington.
The move comes just days after an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly shot two National Guard troops in Washington DC, an incident Trump immediately framed as a “major national security threat.”
Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 under a special visa programme for Afghans who assisted American forces during the withdrawal.
What this really means is that Trump is tightening the screws on immigration policy once again. In a June proclamation, he argued that the United States “must be vigilant” during the visa process and ensure that people who enter do not “bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens or institutions.”
He also repeated long-standing claims that nationals of certain countries pose high risks of overstaying visas or undermining public safety.
The countries named in that proclamation- 19 in total – also face a suspension of entry to the United States, affecting Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
The announcement has rattled green card holders from these regions, many of whom have lived and worked in the United States for years.
Community leaders say hotline calls have surged, with immigrants worried about losing legal status or facing sudden investigations.
Foreign governments have also begun pressing the United States for explanations, warning that blanket measures risk stigmatising entire populations and straining diplomatic relations.
Several officials privately described the move as “punitive” and “politically motivated,” especially after USCIS also revealed that all refugee admissions under the Biden administration are now under review. Tensions escalated further on Wednesday when the US abruptly suspended all immigration processing for Afghans, citing the need to reassess “security and vetting protocols.”
Trump, however, shows no sign of slowing down. “This attack underscores the greatest national security threat facing our nation,” he said, doubling down on his claim that the previous administration allowed “20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners” into the country. For millions of immigrants, documented and undocumented, the message is clear: the climate of fear they’ve been living with is entering a new phase, and the political battle over America’s identity is far from over.