Donald Trump Says He’ll ‘Permanently Pause Migration’ From All ‘Third World Countries’

President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping new directive to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries,” issuing the announcement in a late-night post on his social media platform. The declaration followed a deadly shooting near the White House that claimed the life of a National Guard soldier.

In his post, Trump argued the pause is needed to allow the U.S. immigration system to “recover,” while vowing to cancel what he called “millions of Biden illegal admissions.” He also pledged to revoke federal benefits for non-citizens, denaturalize migrants who “undermine domestic tranquility,” and deport anyone seen as a public burden, security threat, or “incompatible with Western civilization.”

The order came after Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal was accused of killing a 20-year-old service member and critically injuring another. Lakanwal had entered the U.S. in 2021 through the Operation Allies Welcome programme and later received asylum.

In the immediate aftermath, USCIS froze all immigration applications tied to Afghan nationals. The administration also announced a “rigorous re-examination” of green-card holders from 19 unspecified “countries of concern.”

Trump pointed to the attack as evidence that earlier migration policies posed a major security risk, condemning the 2021 Afghan evacuation as an “unchecked” influx and calling for “reverse migration” to address what he views as systemic failures.

Critics warn that Trump’s language—including terms like “Third World countries”—carries racial undertones and could heighten xenophobia, while officials have not clarified how the halt will be enforced.

The announcement adds to a series of restrictive measures introduced in 2025, raising uncertainty and fear among current immigrants, asylum applicants, and long-term residents as legal challenges are expected.