Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump declared Thursday that his administration will “permanently pause” all migration from what he called “Third World Countries,” marking the most sweeping immigration restriction of his second term so far. The announcement came one day after a deadly shooting near the White House that killed one National Guard member and left another critically wounded.
In a lengthy Thanksgiving-night post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions… and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States.” He vowed to end federal benefits for non-citizens, denaturalize immigrants who “undermine domestic tranquility,” and deport anyone considered a public charge, security risk, or “non-compatible with Western civilization.”
The president did not name specific countries affected by the blanket pause, nor did he define exactly which nations qualify as “Third World.” Earlier White House guidance had identified 19 countries of heightened concern, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen, and several others in Africa and Asia.
Shooting Sparks New Crackdown
The policy escalation follows Wednesday’s ambush-style attack on two National Guard troops stationed in Washington, D.C., as part of Trump’s initiative to curb urban crime. Twenty-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia was killed, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.
Authorities identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national and father of five who entered the United States legally in 2021 through a special resettlement program created after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Lakanwal had previously worked with CIA-backed Afghan commando units and helped protect Kabul airport during the 2021 evacuation. He was granted asylum earlier in 2025—during Trump’s current term—and was awaiting a green card decision.
Despite Lakanwal’s legal status and prior vetting by U.S. authorities, Trump described the shooting as an “act of terror” and used it to argue that even thoroughly screened immigrants from certain regions pose unacceptable risks.
Immediate Actions Already Underway
The administration has moved quickly:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indefinitely halted all Afghan-related immigration processing.
- Officials began re-examining green cards issued to citizens of the 19 previously flagged countries.
- Additional immigration enforcement officers have been deployed to major cities to accelerate deportations, including many long-term residents with no criminal record.
According to ICE data from mid-November, more than two-thirds of the roughly 53,000 people currently in immigration detention have no criminal convictions.
Trump has repeatedly framed the new measures as “reverse migration,” insisting that only large-scale removal of both legal and illegal immigrants can restore what he calls “domestic tranquility” and protect American living standards.
International and Domestic Reaction
United Nations officials swiftly criticized the plan, reminding the United States of its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention (often referred to by its 1953 protocol). “Asylum seekers are entitled to protection under international law and should be given due process,” said Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN human rights office.
Immigration advocates accused the president of scapegoating entire populations for the actions of one individual. Jeremy McKinney, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, noted that radicalization and mental health crises “don’t know skin color or nationality.”
What Comes Next
Legal experts predict immediate court challenges if the administration attempts a blanket ban on migration from dozens of countries without specific justification for each. During Trump’s first term, similar travel bans faced years of litigation before being upheld in narrowed form by the Supreme Court.
For now, the White House has offered no timeline or detailed list of affected countries, leaving millions of visa applicants, refugees, and green-card holders in limbo as the holiday weekend continues.
The shooting of Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe has reignited America’s long-running debate over immigration, security, and who belongs in the country—pushing President Trump to enact what may become the most restrictive immigration policy in modern U.S. history.