President Donald Trump has announced that he intends to “permanently pause migration from all third world countries” following a shooting near the White House that left one National Guard member dead and another critically injured. The suspect, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. through a post-withdrawal resettlement program, is expected to face first-degree murder charges.
In a late-night social media post, Trump said his administration would also end federal benefits for noncitizens and remove anyone he deemed not contributing economically to the country. The announcement marks a significant escalation in the administration’s already strict immigration policies, which have recently included revoking temporary protected status for several nations and tightening asylum reviews.
The State Department has paused issuing visas for Afghan passport holders, while immigration authorities have suspended processing of Afghan-related applications and begun reevaluating green cards and asylum approvals from “countries of concern.” Officials referenced a list of 19 nations previously targeted under a travel ban when asked which countries might be affected.
Critics warn the administration is using the shooting as justification for sweeping immigration restrictions, while supporters argue the incident highlights gaps in vetting processes. Despite legal challenges to similar bans in the past, Trump has doubled down on his stance, calling border control a top national security priority.