Trump: US Will ‘Permanently Pause Migration from All 3rd World Countries’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In a heated Thanksgiving Day social media post, President Donald Trump pledged to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations following the fatal shooting of a National Guard member by an Afghan refugee. Trump blamed immigrants for crime and vowed to reverse Biden-era admissions. Critics cite studies showing no link between immigration and increased crime.
Trump’s Anti-Immigration Push Quick Looks
- Trump calls for permanent halt to migration from poor countries
- Post follows fatal DC shooting by Afghan refugee Rahmanullah Lakanwal
- Trump says only “reverse migration” can fix immigration problems
- Lakanwal entered U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome in 2021
- Trump accuses immigrants of crime, welfare abuse, and undermining society
- Economic experts warn deportations could damage U.S. labor market
- Studies show immigrants less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens
- Trump vows to denaturalize and deport “non-compatible” individuals
- Director of USCIS announces stricter vetting for 19 high-risk countries
- Trump’s rhetoric escalates ahead of 2026 election season
Deep Look: Trump Vows Migration Freeze from Poor Nations After DC Guard Shooting
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — On Thanksgiving night, President Donald Trump unleashed a fiery social media post vowing to “permanently pause migration” from impoverished countries — a response fueled by the recent shooting of two National Guard members by an Afghan refugee in Washington, D.C.
In his extended and confrontational Truth Social post, Trump positioned immigration as a threat to national security and societal stability, saying that only “reverse migration” would solve what he called the country’s ongoing immigration crisis. The post followed the fatal shooting of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who died after being shot by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021.
“HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for — You won’t be here for long!” Trump wrote, adding that immigrants were flooding the country from prisons, gangs, and mental institutions.
Shooter Was Afghan Refugee with CIA Links
Lakanwal reportedly worked with a CIA-backed unit in Kandahar during the Afghanistan War. He entered the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era resettlement initiative for Afghan allies. Though his asylum was granted under Trump’s own administration in 2021, the former president used the incident to escalate criticism of the entire refugee program.
The suspect is accused of driving from Bellingham, Washington, to D.C., where he shot Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who remains in critical condition. Lakanwal was also shot by authorities but is expected to survive.
Trump Blames Immigrants for Crime, Welfare Dependency
Trump’s post repeated long-standing accusations that immigrants are responsible for a spike in U.S. crime and welfare use. He alleged that “most” foreign-born residents are dependent on government aid and linked them to criminal organizations — despite data contradicting those claims.
A 2023 study by economists found that immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born citizens — a trend consistent over the past 150 years. Furthermore, the Annual Review of Criminology found no correlation between high immigrant populations and increased crime levels.
Despite this evidence, Trump’s post offered no policy nuance, instead focusing on sweeping generalizations and incendiary language. The White House’s official response called Trump’s post “one of the most important messages ever released by President Trump.”
Denaturalization and Mass Deportation on the Agenda
In his post, Trump vowed to terminate all immigration-related admissions made under President Joe Biden. He pledged to strip federal benefits from noncitizens, denaturalize individuals he claimed “undermine domestic tranquility,” and deport those deemed incompatible with Western values.
The president specifically targeted immigrants from Somalia, claiming they were “completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota.” He also insulted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, calling him a dated and offensive slur for intellectual disability. Walz was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024.
Trump’s harsh rhetoric signals a continued strategy to leverage immigration as a central campaign issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
USCIS to Tighten Vetting From High-Risk Nations
Following the shooting, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow announced plans to increase vetting for people from 19 high-risk countries. Though the countries were not named, this follows a June directive that banned travel from 12 nations and imposed restrictions on seven others for national security reasons.
Edlow’s statement, issued Thursday, emphasized a commitment to screening immigrants “to the maximum degree possible.”
Refugee Advocates Push Back
While Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant messaging, experts and refugee advocates warned against using isolated incidents to justify sweeping policies. They argue that the vast majority of refugees, especially those vetted through military partnerships like Operation Allies Welcome, have undergone extensive screening and pose no threat.
The U.S. labor force, which includes over 31 million foreign-born workers, could also face disruption if Trump’s policies were enacted. Economists say mass deportations and reduced immigration could exacerbate labor shortages and harm industries reliant on immigrant labor.
Closing Thoughts
Although Trump didn’t specifically reference the D.C. shooting in his social media post, his surge in anti-immigration rhetoric comes directly after the death of a U.S. Guardswoman and the public outrage surrounding an Afghan refugee’s role in the attack.
When asked Thursday whether he blamed all Afghans for the shooting, Trump said, “No, but we’ve had a lot of problems with Afghans.”
As the political fallout continues, Trump’s messaging sets the stage for a high-stakes debate over the future of U.S. immigration policy — one he clearly intends to dominate.
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