Following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. by an Afghan national, USCIS issued new guidance allowing officers to weigh negative, country-specific factors when evaluating immigration requests from individuals originating in 19 high-risk countries. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that the move is meant to restore rigorous vetting standards, arguing that prior policies weakened national security by prioritizing rapid resettlement. The guidance, which aligns with President Trump’s Proclamation 10949, permits officers to consider issues like a country’s ability to produce secure identity documents when determining whether an applicant poses a threat. The policy takes effect immediately and applies to both pending and newly filed requests as of November 27, 2025.