US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would stop migration from “third world countries”.
“I will permanently stop immigration from all third world countries to completely fix the American system,” Trump posted on his Truth social media platform.
Trump further said he would “terminate Biden’s millions of illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset of the United States.”
This comes after the Trump administration ordered a full review of the permanent residence status – so-called “green cards” – of immigrants from 19 countries in the wake of the attack on two US National Guard personnel in Washington, DC.
An Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 after working with the US military and intelligence services in Afghanistan has been arrested in connection with the shooting near the White House on Wednesday.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump confirmed the death of one of two National Guard members who were shot.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow said on Twitter: “I have directed a full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.”
The Trump administration had already halted processing of immigration applications from Afghanistan on Wednesday in the wake of the shootings.
Countries listed include Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Cuba, Venezuela
A full-scale review of residency status, conducted by USCIS and on the orders of President Donald Trump, follows the identification of the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting as Afghan national Rahmanullah L.
The 19 countries under investigation were named in the June proclamation, which was initially announced banned entry On citizens of states lacking in screening and vetting protocols.
The countries listed include Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen, as well as Cuba, Venezuela, Chad and Eritrea.
Critics warned of the policy risks of penalizing hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents based solely on nationality.
It is unclear whether the review will lead to annulment or deportation.
For now, the administration has framed it as a protective measure aimed at national security in light of the DC attack.
Trump says he will suspend immigration after Washington shootings
Later Thursday, Trump said he would “permanently halt migration from all Third World countries.”
He said the move would allow the US to reverse the effects of his predecessor Joe Biden’s migration policy, including a special visa program for Afghans who worked with the US in Afghanistan before the Taliban returned to power.
Trump also said he would “deport any person who is not a net asset to the United States” and “end all federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens of our country, denaturalize immigrants who undermine domestic peace, and deport any foreign national who is deemed a public charge, a security risk, or non-compatible with Western civilization.”
Edited by Carl Sexton