US Green Card: In the aftermath of the shooting outside the White House — reportedly carried out by an individual from Afghanistan — the US Government has mandated that all green cards that have been issued to immigrants from the 19 countries it considers problematic are thoroughly and systematically reassessed. This directive was made by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the direction of President Donald Trump, as well as requesting a “full-scale, rigorous reassessment” of the Permanent Resident Status for people who come from the countries listed above.
In addition to this, immigration requests and asylum-based requests from at least one of the countries on the list — specifically Afghanistan — are being halted indefinitely.
The above 19 countries are generally regarded as being associated with terrorism and include
- Afghanistan,
- Myanmar,
- Eritrea,
- Iran,
- Somalia,
- Sudan,
- Libya,
- Yemen,
- Venezuela and others.
One of the major distinctions is that India does not appear on this list. There have been reports confirming that the current overhaul will specifically target countries that have been validated as having significant security issues or background check deficiencies; India is not one of those countries.
What This Means for Indian Immigrants and Hopefuls
According to the regulations set forth by the USCIS, there is no indication that the outcome of the EOTP application process will negatively impact any US green-card applications made by or for Indian nationals. Instead, the potential indirect consequences would include:
The current immigration and background check climate is likely to result in longer processing times for all types of green cards and visas, including those from India.
Individuals waiting in a very extended green-card queue, especially employment-based applicants from India, may see longer wait times and additional scrutiny as USCIS implements stricter vetting policies.
Family immigration and family reunification efforts may also become slower if, in the future, increased scrutiny and stricter eligibility evaluations are accepted standards in immigration.
Why the Change is Important — For More Than One Reason
The Official Position: To enhance national security and ensure that the U.S. does not “suffer the consequences of prior administrations’ unsound resettlement practices.”
However, critics have stated that the broad nature of this policy — which is based on nationality and not individual risk — has the potential to stigmatise entire communities and create uncertainty for the many innocent immigrants who are lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and have been living there for many years.
Should Indian Nationals Become Alarmed?
Given current information, Indians are not in the direct firing line of this green-card review. However, the overall tightening of immigration norms could still affect visa, work-permit, and green-card wait times. If you’re planning to apply, or are already in the queue, it’s wise to:
- Keep documentation updated
- Monitor USCIS announcements
- Consult an immigration expert if your application is at a sensitive stage
