The Trump administration said it plans a sweeping, high-stakes review of every green card holder from nations it considers ‘of concern,’ a move sparked by the Washington, DC, shooting that wounded two National Guard troops—and one officials say is just the beginning of a broader crackdown.
Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said the push for a massive review came straight from President Trump—one that could reach green card holders from 19 different countries, and signal a new era of tighter scrutiny.
The suspect in the National Guard shooting, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021—entering amid the chaotic exit from the country through the Operation Allies Welcome program, a massive resettlement effort launched by the Biden administration after the fall of Kabul.
“The protection of this country and of the American people remains paramount, and the American people will not bear the cost of the prior administration’s reckless resettlement policies. American safety is non negotiable,” Edlow posted on X.
Joseph Edlow, head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, revealed plans for a far-reaching probe targeting green card holders from nations labeled "of concern"—a move that hints at a dramatic shift in how the U.S. vets legal residents. AP
According to a spokesperson, the list of countries labeled "of concern" lines up with the 19 nations named in President Trump’s June executive order—issued under the umbrella of safeguarding Americans from foreign terrorism. Those countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—a lineup that underscores just how wide this review could reach.
A green card gives immigrants the ability to live in the U.S. long-term, work legally, and build a life here—privileges that millions chase, and ones that could now come under a level of scrutiny rarely seen before.
More than 190,000 Afghans were resettled in the U.S. following the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to data from the U.S. Department of State—a relocation effort that reshaped communities across the country and continues to fuel intense debate over security and vetting.
Just weeks into his second term, after being sworn in, President Trump took swift action to pause Afghan refugee resettlement in the U.S. He later tightened the rules even further, limiting travel from Afghanistan—a decision that signaled a hard turn in immigration policy and left many wondering what comes next.
On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced it was immediately suspending “processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols.”
President Trump said his team is also reviewing whether to deport the family of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in the National Guard shooting—raising new questions about the scope of the administration’s response. REUTERS
Rahmanullah Lakanwal entered the U.S. through the ‘Operation Allies Welcome’ program, a resettlement initiative launched in the wake of Afghanistan’s chaotic evacuation. AP
Lakanwal served in Afghanistan’s elite NDS-03 counterterrorism unit, one of at least five paramilitary "Zero Units" that collaborated with the CIA, according to AfghanEvac—a nonprofit run by American veterans that helps resettle Afghan allies in the U.S., though Lakanwal himself was not among those they assisted.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that Lakanwal had worked with the agency, though he did not specify which unit. His service to the U.S. played a key role in securing his entry into the country.
Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024 and later received approval in April under the Trump administration—a process that granted him legal entry into the U.S. amid heightened scrutiny of Afghan arrivals.
According to local authorities, Lakanwal allegedly traveled from his home in Washington state—where he lived with his wife and five children—to Washington, D.C., to carry out the ambush attack.
On Thursday, the suspect allegedly shot two West Virginia National Guard members: 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, who later died from her injuries, and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, who remains critically wounded.
Officials said Lakanwal is recovering from injuries sustained when a National Guard member opened fire on him.
The Trump administration is conducting a sweeping review of Afghan refugees who were approved for entry under the Biden administration, raising questions about the future of resettlement programs. AP
So far, he faces at least three counts of assault with intent to kill and criminal possession of a weapon—charges that could land him in prison for up to 15 years.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro warned that Lakanwal will face murder charges, while Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed that prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.
Trump said his team is currently reviewing whether to deport Lakanwal’s family, a move that could escalate the administration’s response to the attack.
“We’re looking at the whole situation with the family. It’s a tragic situation,” he told reporters Thursday.
