US President Donald Trump has announced he will “permanently pause migration from all third world countries,” following a shooting near the White House that killed one National Guard member and critically injured another. The president issued the statement late Thursday night in a sharply worded post on Truth Social that began with a greeting for Thanksgiving.
Trump said his administration would move to end all federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens and begin removing “anyone who is not a net asset to the United States.”
Details on how such a migration freeze would be legally implemented remain unclear, and previous broad bans from the Trump administration have faced significant legal challenges.
Shooting of Guard Members Sparks Political Firestorm
Earlier Thursday, Trump confirmed the death of Sarah Beckstrom, one of two National Guard members shot near the White House on Wednesday. The alleged gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 under a Biden-era evacuation program.
Lakanwal was granted asylum in April 2025 — while Trump was in office — and the CIA has confirmed he previously assisted US-backed military units in Afghanistan. He survived the attack and remains hospitalized in custody.
The second guard member, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still in critical condition.
Following the incident, the State Department announced an immediate pause on issuing visas to anyone traveling on an Afghan passport.
A Major Escalation of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
Trump’s late-night statement signals a significant tightening of his administration’s already aggressive immigration agenda. His second term has been marked by mass deportation operations, expanded detention, and broad reviews of asylum and immigration programs.
Recent actions include:
Cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela, Haiti, Somalia, and Afghanistan
A new review of all asylum approvals made under the Biden administration
Suspension of USCIS processing for immigration cases involving Afghan nationals
A directive to re-examine “every green card for every alien from every country of concern”
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the agency will conduct a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination” of green cards, though the administration has not yet clarified which countries fall into that category. DHS later pointed to Trump’s June travel ban that listed 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Rhetoric Intensifies, Details Remain Unclear
Trump did not specify which nations he considers “third world countries,” and critics say his statement relied heavily on unsupported claims linking migrants to crime and economic strain.
The president also singled out Somali communities in Minnesota, days after announcing plans to end TPS protections for Somali immigrants.
Earlier Thursday, Trump said the DC shooting demonstrates the urgent need for “full control over the people who enter and remain in our country.”
Legal and Policy Questions Ahead
The US Department of Homeland Security declined to clarify the scope of a potential migration pause, referring questions to the countries listed in the most recent travel restrictions.
A previous Trump travel ban in 2017 faced rapid protests and legal battles before being restructured; it was ultimately rescinded by President Biden in 2021.
More Troops Deployed as DC ‘Crime Emergency’ Continues
National Guard troops have been stationed across Washington DC since August, when the Trump administration declared a “crime emergency” and ordered military support for law enforcement.
After Wednesday’s shooting, Trump announced plans to send 500 additional National Guard members to the district.
A federal judge recently ordered an end to the troop deployment but delayed the order for 21 days to allow the administration time to comply or appeal.
