President Donald Trump declared late Thursday, on 27 November, that his administration would “permanently pause” all migration from what he described as “Third World countries,” escalating a sweeping immigration crackdown in the wake of a fatal shooting of a National Guard member near the White House. The announcement, posted on Truth Social, comes amid a multi-agency investigation into the ambush-style attack carried out by a 29-year-old Afghan national, which has reignited debates over U.S. vetting processes for refugees and immigrants.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, opened fire on two National Guard troops stationed near the Farragut West Metro station on Wednesday evening, just blocks from the White House. U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, from West Virginia, succumbed to her wounds on Thursday, according to President Trump and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials. Her fellow Guardsman, Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition at a local hospital. Authorities described the incident as a “targeted attack,” with the FBI probing potential terrorism links, though no motive has been publicly confirmed.
Lakanwal, who had no prior criminal record in the U.S., entered the country in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era program that resettled over 80,000 Afghans who aided U.S. forces during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had collaborated with CIA-backed local units in Kandahar province and was granted asylum in April 2025, during Trump’s second term, after applying in December 2024. DHS confirmed he was thoroughly vetted upon arrival, with no disqualifying information uncovered at the time.
In a lengthy Truth Social post blending Thanksgiving greetings with sharp anti-immigration rhetoric, Trump blamed the shooting on “stupid immigration policies” from the Biden administration and vowed aggressive reforms. He claimed the U.S. foreign-born population stands at 53 million—mostly from “failed nations, prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels”—and accused refugees of fueling crime, failing schools, overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages, and budget deficits. Without evidence, Trump singled out Somali refugees in Minnesota, alleging they have “completely taken over” the state through gangs and exploitation of welfare systems.
Key elements of Trump’s proposed “Reverse Migration” plan include:
Permanent Pause on Migration: An immediate and indefinite halt to all immigration from “Third World countries,” potentially affecting over 100 developing nations. While Trump did not specify the list, DHS officials referred inquiries to a June 2025 travel ban covering 19 “high-risk” countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Venezuela, Haiti, and Yemen. Exceptions may apply for diplomats and select military allies, per White House clarifications.
Deportation Surge: Launching the “largest deportation operation in history,” targeting millions of “Biden-era illegal admissions,” including those approved via autopen. Prioritization for individuals deemed “not a net asset,” security risks, or “non-compatible with Western Civilization.”
Revocation of Status: Reexamination of all green cards and asylum approvals from the 19 banned countries, with potential revocation for those failing re-interviews or flagged as risks. Denaturalization for migrants “undermining domestic tranquility.”
End to Benefits: Termination of all federal welfare, subsidies, and benefits for non-citizens, including family remittances tied to green card holders.
Refugee Cap Reduction: Slashing the FY2026 refugee ceiling to 7,500—the lowest since 1980—with preferences for groups like “persecuted white South Africans.”
In immediate response to the shooting, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) indefinitely suspended all Afghan-related applications on Wednesday night, pending enhanced security reviews. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow also ordered a “full-scale reexamination” of green cards from the 19 targeted countries and introduced stricter “negative factors” for applicants from those nations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., bolstering the 2,200 already there for Trump’s urban crime initiatives.
Trump reposted a 2021 image of Afghans clinging to a U.S. military plane during the Kabul evacuation, writing that “millions poured in with zero vetting” under Biden, a claim disputed by officials who note rigorous screenings were conducted. In a prerecorded video from Mar-a-Lago, he called the shooting an “act of evil, hatred, and terror,” vowing, “We will fix this, but we will never forget what Biden and the Democrats did.”
The moves build on Trump’s second-term agenda, including a June travel ban and the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nations like Afghanistan and Somalia. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data shows over 53,000 arrests this year, with two-thirds lacking criminal convictions, as the administration prioritizes mass removals.
Legal experts anticipate swift court challenges, citing precedents from Trump’s 2017 travel ban, which was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court but faced years of litigation. Advocacy groups warn the policies could strand vulnerable allies, exacerbate labor shortages, and strain U.S. diplomatic ties, potentially reducing legal immigration by up to 80%. The White House has not yet issued a formal executive order detailing implementation.
President Trump concluded his post with a qualified Thanksgiving message: “HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for—you won’t be here for long!”
