US to conduct full review of Green Cards issued to 19 countries

The Trump administration has announced that it will conduct a full and strict review of all green cards issued to people from 19 countries that the government considers “countries of concern.”

This announcement was made on November 27, 2025, by Joseph Edlow, the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The decision comes after a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., involving a suspect who was an Afghan national.

Which Countries Are Included?

According to reports based on a June White House travel proclamation, the 19 countries on the list are:

• Afghanistan
• Burma
• Chad
• Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Iran
• Libya
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen
• Burundi
• Cuba
• Laos
• Sierra Leone
• Togo
• Turkmenistan
• Venezuela

Why Is This Review Being Done?

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said that President Trump ordered this review to ensure the safety and security of the United States.
He added that the decision was made because of what he called the “prior administration’s reckless resettlement policies.”

Officials say the countries on the list were selected due to security concerns and high visa overstay rates.

How Will the Re-Examination Work?

At the moment, the government has not shared exact details about how the reviews will be carried out.
Agencies like USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security are still working on the process.

However, the administration says the goal is to ensure that every green card issued to individuals from these 19 countries is reviewed with “rigorous” security checks.

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