Trump Announces ‘Permanent Pause’ on Migration From ‘Third World’ Countries Following DC Shooting
Summary
President Donald Trump has declared his intention to “permanently pause” migration from what he described as “third world countries.” The announcement was made via a social media post late on Thanksgiving, just one day after a tragic shooting incident in Washington, D.C. that targeted two National Guard members.
In his statement, the President indicated that his administration aims to end all federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens. He further pledged to remove anyone residing in the country who is not considered a “net asset” to the United States. While the President did not specifically define which nations fall under the “third world” label in his post, the Department of Homeland Security has referred inquiries to an existing list of 19 countries currently subject to a travel ban.
This sudden policy escalation follows an attack near the White House on Wednesday that resulted in the death of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom and left another, Andrew Wolfe, fighting for his life. Authorities have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who reportedly worked with CIA-backed units during the war in Afghanistan and was granted asylum in the U.S. earlier this year.
In response to the shooting, the administration has already moved to suspend the processing of immigration requests for Afghan nationals indefinitely. Additionally, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been directed to conduct a rigorous re-examination of asylum cases and green cards associated with “countries of concern.” This Trump migration policy shift marks a significant intensification of the administration’s approach to border control and vetting processes.
Source:https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/28/trump-says-he-will-permanently-pause-migration-from-third-world-countries-after-national-guard-shooting