U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday declared that his administration would “permanently pause” migration from all so-called “Third World Countries”. He made the announcement following a deadly D.C. attack near the White House, which he linked to failures in immigration vetting under the Biden administration.
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Trump did not specify which countries he would affect, nor did he explain what he meant by “Third World Countries” or how long he would keep the freeze in place. He emphasized that his plan would target not only future immigrants but also cases that President Joe Biden had approved.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “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, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States.”
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He added that all federal benefits and subsidies for non-citizens would end immediately. Trump also said he would “denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility” and deport any foreign national deemed a public charge, a security threat, or “non-compatible with Western civilization.”
At the time of the announcement, neither the White House nor the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had responded to requests for comment.
Attack Near White House Sparks Immigration Debate
Trump made his comments after a National Guard member died in a shooting near the White House. Investigators said an Afghan national carried out the attack. The alleged gunman, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the U.S. in 2021 through a resettlement program that President Biden initiated.
Officials noted that Lakanwal entered the country legally, yet the D.C. attack has fueled discussion around immigration policies. Trump used the shooting to justify stricter controls, pointing to what he called a “horrendous” airlift from Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands of people entered the U.S. without proper vetting.
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In connection with the D.C. attack, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Trump had ordered a review of asylum cases approved under the Biden administration. This review also extends to Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently stopped processing all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals indefinitely, citing security concerns. Trump stated that these measures aim to “achieve a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations” and insisted that “only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation.”
Legal Immigrants Targeted as D.C. Attack Fuels Policy Measures
While Lakanwal was in the U.S. legally, Trump’s announcement demonstrates a broader agenda. His plan not only focuses on illegal immigration but also extends scrutiny to legal migrants, including those approved under Biden.
Trump has previously emphasized cracking down on both legal and illegal immigration as a key focus of his presidency. He highlighted that his proposed policies would affect millions of migrants and aim to ensure that only individuals who contribute positively to the United States can stay.
According to his statements, his measures would end federal benefits for non-citizens, deport foreign nationals deemed problematic, and review naturalization cases. Trump did not provide specifics on how his administration would implement these policies, leaving questions about enforcement, timelines, and the fate of those already admitted.
This announcement comes amid a growing national debate about immigration, security, and how the U.S. vets newcomers. The D.C. attack continues to shape discussions on how the country balances humanitarian programs with national safety concerns. Trump cited the incident multiple times to justify halting migration from certain countries.
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The D.C. attack has become a central point in political discourse, highlighting vulnerabilities in immigration vetting and the potential risks posed by both legal and illegal migration. President Biden admitted the Afghan national responsible for the attack under his resettlement program, which has further intensified scrutiny of immigration policies.
Trump’s plan now directly ties the D.C. attack to his broader immigration agenda, showing how individual incidents can impact nationwide policy discussions. This emphasis on the D.C. attack reinforces the administration’s push for stricter immigration reviews and tighter controls on foreign nationals entering the U.S.