Trump Announces "Permanent Pause" on Immigration from "Third World Countries"
Saturday, November 29, 2025
President Trump announced sweeping immigration restrictions, including a "permanent pause" on migration from "Third World Countries" and review of green cards from 19 nations, following a deadly shooting in Washington, DC by an Afghan national. This marks the most aggressive immigration crackdown of his presidency, affecting thousands of refugees, asylum seekers, and green card holders.
On Thursday, President Trump declared plans to "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries" after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, DC, with one fatally wounded. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 under "Operation Allies Welcome" after working with US forces, including the CIA. Trump ordered US Citizenship and Immigration Services to conduct "a full-scale, rigorous re-examination" of every green card issued to people from 19 countries of concern, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Venezuela, and Yemen. The administration also suspended all Afghan immigration requests indefinitely and announced reviews of asylum cases approved under President Biden. Trump stated he would "remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States," end federal benefits to noncitizens, and deport any foreign national deemed "non-compatible with Western Civilization." Over 190,000 Afghans have resettled in the US since 2021, and this policy could affect hundreds of thousands of immigrants and their families.
Key Facts
- • Afghan national suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal entered US in 2021 under Biden's "Operation Allies Welcome" program
- • Trump ordered re-examination of all green cards from 19 countries: Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen, Cuba, Chad, Libya, Sudan, and others
- • Over 190,000 Afghans resettled in US since August 2021 military withdrawal
- • US Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended all Afghan immigration requests indefinitely on Wednesday
- • Trump administration reviewing approximately 200,000 refugees admitted under Biden, with green card applications suspended
- • October 2025: Trump set lowest refugee admission cap in US history at 7,500 for fiscal year 2026
- • Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from shooting injuries; Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition