US President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping new immigration policy: he plans to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries,” citing the need for the U.S. system to “fully recover.”
The announcement comes in the wake of a deadly shooting near the White House involving an Afghan national, which the administration says prompted a comprehensive review of immigration and asylum policies.
🔒 What the Pause Entails
According to Trump’s statement on his social-media platform, the pause will affect all immigration, asylum and residency applications from countries he described as part of the “Third World.”
He added that the administration plans to revoke the “millions” of admissions processed under the previous government, end federal benefits and subsidies for non-citizens, and deport any foreign national deemed a “security risk” or “public charge.”
The review will include a re-examination of green cards and asylum approvals from a list of about 19 countries earlier identified under travel restrictions.
📰 Context: What Sparked the Move
The policy shift was triggered by a shooting incident in Washington, D.C., in which a National Guard member was killed and another critically wounded. The alleged shooter is a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. under a resettlement programme.
In response, the government suspended immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a full security review – a move that expanded into the broader “Third-World” migration pause.
🌍 Implications
The announcement signals one of the toughest immigration crackdowns in recent U.S. history, potentially affecting asylum-seekers, refugees, and immigrants from dozens of developing nations.
Millions of previously approved residency and asylum cases may now face re-evaluation or revocation.
The move has stirred global debate around immigration, security, and human rights – especially as definitions of “Third World” remain vague and could impact a wide range of countries.
📌 What’s Next
Officials at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have been ordered to carry out a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination” of green-card holders from the 19 flagged countries – though which countries qualify under “Third World” remains unspecified.
The Trump administration also warned it will end all federal subsidies to non-citizens and begin a campaign of denaturalization and deportation for those deemed incompatible with the new criteria.
As this policy evolves, its global ramifications are expected to be closely watched – especially by immigrant communities and governments of affected nations.
