TL;DR
Following the fatal shooting of a West Virginia National Guard member near the White House by an Afghan national, President Donald Trump has ordered a sweeping review of all Green Cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern.” The move comes on the heels of new travel restrictions affecting nationals from 12 high-risk nations and partial bans on travelers from seven others.
Why Did the Trump Administration Order a Green Card Review?
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced an immediate re-examination of every Green Card issued to immigrants from what the administration labels “countries of concern.”
The directive came one day after two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House, allegedly by an Afghan national. One of the soldiers, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, later died from her injuries.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed that he has ordered a “full-scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”
This review marks one of the administration’s most aggressive immigration actions since June.
Which Countries Are Affected?
In June, the administration restricted entry for nationals from 12 countries identified as posing a “very high risk” to the United States:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
The White House also imposed partial restrictions on travelers from seven additional nations:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
The new directive now expands scrutiny to existing Green Card holders from these regions.
What Is a Green Card?
A Green Card, officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, allows a foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States.
This status is a key step toward citizenship. Green Card holders—legally called lawful permanent residents (LPRs)—can apply for naturalization after maintaining continuous residence for 1 to 5 years, depending on their category.
Children under 18 automatically become US citizens if at least one parent is already a citizen.
Who Can Get a Green Card?
Green Cards are issued through several pathways:
Family-Based Immigration
A US citizen or existing permanent resident sponsors a relative.
Employment-Based Immigration
Applicants qualify through:
- A permanent job offer
- Specialized skills
- Investment in a US business (EB-5 category)
Diversity Visa Lottery
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program offers approximately 55,000 visas each year to applicants from countries with low immigration rates to the US.
Humanitarian Categories
Refugees and asylees may apply for a Green Card after living in the US for a year.
How Does Someone Apply for a Green Card?
The process generally involves:
1. Petition Filing
A family member or employer submits a petition.
Some applicants—such as certain investors and special immigrants—may self-petition.
2. Visa Availability
Once the petition is approved, applicants wait for a visa to become available under their category.
3. Application Filing
- Inside the US: File with USCIS for adjustment of status.
- Outside the US: Apply through the US Department of State at a US consulate.
4. Biometrics
Applicants submit fingerprints, photos, and a signature for security checks.
5. Interview
A USCIS officer or consular official verifies eligibility.
6. Approval
Green Cards are typically valid for 10 years and can be renewed.
How Much Do Green Card–Related Fees Cost?
Here’s a breakdown of commonly associated fees
Nonimmigrant & Petition Fees
- Non-petition-based nonimmigrant visa: $185
- Petition-based visa: $205
- Treaty Trader/Investor, Australian Specialty Worker: $315
- Fiancé(e)/Spouse of US citizen: $265
Family-Based Immigration
- Immigrant petition for relative (I-130): $675
- Orphan adoption petitions (I-600/I-800): $775
- Immediate relative/family preference visa: $325
Employment-Based Immigration
- Employment-based immigrant visa (I-140/I-526 base): $345 (~₹29,000)
Other Categories
- Special immigrants, self-petitioners, returning residents: $205 (~₹17,000)
- Diversity Visa (DV Lottery): $330 (~₹27,300)
Why This Review Matters
This move could affect hundreds of thousands of current permanent residents. It raises major questions about:
- Whether existing Green Cards can be revoked
- How USCIS defines “countries of concern”
- The legality of reviewing already-approved permanent residency
- Potential delays for pending Green Card cases
As legal experts note, sweeping retroactive immigration actions often face challenges in federal courts
USCIS (uscis.gov): for policy updates
- Department of Homeland Security (dhs.gov): for country restrictions
- Congressional Research Service: for analysis on executive immigration authority
- Federal Register: for published travel ban or immigration rule changes