...US President announces sweeping changes to third world countries migration
… Move came after US-trained Afghan shot at White House guards
US President Donald Trump has declared a “permanent pause” on migration from all “Third World countries”, a sweeping move announced after a deadly attack near the White House involving an Afghan asylum seeker. The announcement marks one of the most far-reaching immigration restrictions of his presidency and has intensified debate over US migration policy and vetting procedures.
National Guard Member Killed in Attack Near White House
The policy shift comes after National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was shot dead in Washington, DC on Wednesday. Another guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition.
Authorities identified the suspected gunman as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 through a Biden-era resettlement programme established after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. According to government files seen by Reuters, Lakanwal was granted asylum this year under Trump’s own administration.
Trump Expands Immigration Crackdown
Trump’s statement did not specify which nations he considers “Third World countries” or how the “permanent pause” on migration would be enforced. He said the suspension would also apply to cases approved under former President Joe Biden, including what he labelled “Biden illegal admissions”.
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the system to fully recover,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added that his administration would remove migrants who are “not a net asset to the United States”.
Trump also pledged to:
- End federal benefits for all non-citizens
- Denaturalise migrants accused of harming “domestic tranquility”
- Deport foreigners considered a public charge or security risk
- Review asylum approvals issued between 2021 and 2024
The White House and US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have not commented publicly on the proposal. However, USCIS has already suspended all Afghan-related immigration processing indefinitely.
Afghan Resettlement Programme Under Scrutiny
The attack has renewed scrutiny of the Afghan evacuation and resettlement programme implemented after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Trump claimed—without presenting evidence—that “hundreds of thousands” of Afghans were brought to the US “unvetted” during the airlift.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Trump has ordered a wide-scale review of green cards and asylum approvals issued to citizens of 19 countries under Biden’s presidency.
Immigration analysts say the case is likely to fuel further debate around vetting processes and the broader handling of Afghan refugees.
Trump Pushes ‘Reverse Migration’ Strategy
Trump also said that only “reverse migration”—a large-scale reduction in the number of migrants living in the US—would “cure” the situation. The phrase suggests a major policy push for mass deportation.
The administration has already increased the number of immigration enforcement officers in major US cities. ICE data shows:
- Roughly 53,000 migrants were in detention as of November 15
- More than two-thirds of detainees had no criminal convictions
Human rights organisations warn that the proposed migration freeze, combined with mass deportations, could amount to collective punishment and create legal precarity for thousands.
Growing Global and Domestic Concern
Trump’s proposed migration ban is expected to draw significant criticism from humanitarian groups, immigration lawyers and foreign governments—particularly those in Asia, Africa and Latin America who fear being included in the “Third World countries” classification.
International observers say the move could strain US alliances, undermine refugee protection frameworks and worsen already tense domestic debates over migration, national security and asylum rights.
