Is India Affected by Trump’s Green Card Crackdown?

The Trump administration has ordered a comprehensive review of Green Cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern,” following a deadly shooting incident near the White House. The move was confirmed by USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, who stated the action was taken at the direction of President Donald Trump.

Edlow announced that all Green Cards issued to immigrants from specific high-risk nations will undergo a “full-scale, rigorous reexamination.” He emphasized that protecting American citizens remains the top priority and criticized the previous administration’s immigration policies as careless.

This policy shift follows a tragic event where Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fire on two National Guard members near the White House. U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died in the incident, while Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. Lakanwal had entered the U.S. in 2021 via an evacuation program initiated during the Biden administration and was later granted asylum under Trump’s presidency.

The revised guidelines allow immigration officers to use country-specific risk factors when processing Green Card requests. Nineteen nations are currently identified as high-risk, including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela. These new measures do not affect Indian nationals, as India is not on the list of concern. The policy took effect on November 27 and applies to all current and future applications.

Green Cards provide permanent residency and a pathway to U.S. citizenship, making this policy shift a significant change in U.S. immigration enforcement.

Green Cards, Trump administration, immigration policy, countries of concern, USCIS