Green Card Review: 19 Countries Targeted by the Trump Administration

The Trump administration ordered a comprehensive review of all Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries classified as “countries of concern.” The measure, announced at the end of November 2025, generated widespread repercussions and potentially affects 3.3 million permanent residents in the United States. Understanding the scope of this decision, its motivations, and who is actually impacted is essential for anyone following the American immigration landscape.

The order came directly from the White House and was carried out by USCIS director Joseph Edlow, who publicly announced a “rigorous and large-scale reexamination of every Green Card of every foreign national from every country of concern.” The measure does not represent an automatic cancellation of permanent residencies, but signals an unprecedented intensification in the scrutiny of already granted immigration benefits.

What motivated the review

The executive order was triggered by a specific incident: a shooting attack against members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., at the end of November 2025. The suspect was identified as an Afghan citizen who had obtained permanent residency in the United States through humanitarian programs created during the Biden administration for the resettlement of Afghan nationals after the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021.

The episode reignited the debate over the effectiveness of background checks applied to beneficiaries of accelerated resettlement programs. The Trump administration used the incident to justify a much broader review than the specific case would require, extending scrutiny to all Green Card categories issued to citizens of the 19 listed countries, regardless of how they obtained the benefit.

The 19 countries on the list

The list of countries whose citizens will have their Green Cards reviewed includes nations already historically monitored by the U.S. government. The selection of these countries reflects national security concerns accumulated over multiple administrations, and is not exclusive to the Trump era.

1. Afghanistan
2. Burma (Myanmar)
3. Burundi
4. Chad
5. Cuba
6. Equatorial Guinea
7. Eritrea
8. Haiti
9. Iran
10. Laos
11. Libya
12. Republic of the Congo
13. Sierra Leone
14. Somalia
15. Sudan
16. Togo
17. Turkmenistan
18. Venezuela
19. Yemen

The largest populations of Green Card holders among these countries include Cubans (over 1 million permanent residents), Haitians (about 700,000), Venezuelans (approximately 500,000), and Iranians (about 400,000). Together, the 19 countries account for a significant number of legal residents in the United States.

Practical impact of the review

The review does not mean automatic revocation of the Green Card, but its practical consequences are significant. USCIS has paused the processing of various categories of applications for citizens of these countries, including naturalization petitions, renewals, and new requests for immigration benefits. Experts warn that this pause may cause some individuals to lose status during the waiting period, making them vulnerable to enforcement actions by ICE.

For Afghan citizens, the situation is even more severe. USCIS has immediately suspended all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals, including ongoing family and employment petitions. This specific suspension affects not only new applications but also cases already in progress.

In March 2026, USCIS announced a partial lifting of the pause, allowing the resumption of processing for “asylum applicants from countries considered low risk, properly screened.” However, the agency did not clarify which countries fall under the “low risk” category, leaving significant uncertainty for millions of permanent residents.

Who is not affected

The measure is directed exclusively at citizens of the 19 listed countries. Nationals of countries outside this list are not subject to this review, and their immigration processes continue to operate normally through regular USCIS procedures.

Brazil, specifically, is not part of this list and there is no indication of possible future inclusion. The reasons are structural: the country maintains stable diplomatic relations with the United States, is not associated with terrorist activities, and has an immigrant community that predominantly uses traditional immigration pathways with rigorous background checks.

Employment-based categories (EB-1, EB-2 NIW, EB-3), investment (EB-5), family reunification, or marriage to a U.S. citizen obtained by nationals of countries outside the list continue to be processed normally. The review does not change the eligibility criteria or procedures for these categories for non-listed countries.

What holders should do

For permanent residents from the 19 countries, immigration experts recommend keeping all documentation organized and easily accessible, including the original Green Card, valid passport, proof of employment and residence, and tax records. Avoiding international travel during the review period may be prudent, as reentry into the United States may face additional scrutiny at ports of entry.

The Green Card review is part of a series of restrictive measures adopted by the Trump administration in the immigration area in 2025-2026, which include the expansion of the travel ban, suspension of the Diversity Visa program, and tightening of rules for various work visa categories. These actions represent a significant shift in the American immigration landscape and reinforce the importance of maintaining solid and up-to-date documentation.

For anyone in the process of obtaining permanent residency, regardless of nationality, meticulous preparation of the petition and strict compliance with all legal requirements remain the best strategy in any political scenario. Following updates directly on the official USCIS website is the most reliable source of information on any changes in procedures.

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.