President Trump is signaling one of the most sweeping immigration crackdowns of his presidency, announcing plans to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries” following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
In a message posted on his Truth Social account Thursday, the president said, “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.”
The statement marks a sharp escalation in the administration’s response after authorities identified the suspected gunman as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through a program for Afghans who assisted American forces during the war.
The administration earlier confirmed it would review green card pathways tied to 19 countries already on a White House list of concern. That June memo included Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen. On Thursday, officials separately announced an indefinite pause on migration from Afghanistan.
While Trump did not specify which additional nations may be affected, the United Nations currently designates 44 countries as “least developed,” a grouping that overlaps heavily with regions the administration has previously labeled high-risk.
The shooting that triggered the policy shift unfolded Wednesday in the nation’s capital, where two National Guard members were targeted while on duty. U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died Thursday from her injuries. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.
The tragedy has intensified the administration’s push for tougher border restrictions, with officials arguing that the existing system has been “overwhelmed” by recent migration trends. Further policy details are expected in the coming days as federal agencies review entry programs, vetting standards and national-security exemptions.
