Trump Announces “Permanent Pause” on Migration from ‘Third World Countries’ in Wake of White House Attack

28 November 2025

On November 28, 2025, Donald Trump declared that his administration would “permanently pause” migration from what he described as all “Third World Countries.” The announcement followed a deadly shooting near the White House in which a National Guard member was killed and another critically wounded. The suspect, identified as an Afghan national admitted under a previous resettlement program, sparked renewed calls from Trump for sweeping immigration restrictions and a re-examination of past asylum approvals under the prior administration.

In a series of posts on his social-media platform, Trump said the pause was necessary to allow the U.S. immigration system to “fully recover.” He added that his administration would terminate benefits for non-citizens, deport individuals deemed security risks or “not a net asset,” and move forward with what he termed “reverse migration.” He specifically referenced reversing what he described as the “illegal admissions” made during the previous administration.

The move is far broader than previous travel bans or targeted restrictions. Trump did not specify which nations would be affected nor clarify what the term “Third World Countries” would include. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security directed inquiries to a travel ban list previously issued in June 2025, which includes 19 countries covered by new restrictions.

His announcement also spelled an end to many federal benefits and subsidies for non-citizens, along with plans to “denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility,” and deport anyone considered a security risk or public burden.

The reaction from the international community and human-rights organizations was swift. Agencies of the United Nations reminded the United States of its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention, emphasizing that asylum seekers remain entitled to protection and due-process, regardless of domestic political shifts.

The backdrop to this sweeping policy shift was Wednesday’s shooting near the White House in Washington, D.C. The attacker was identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national who had been granted asylum this year. Trump used the incident to criticize what he called lax vetting procedures and to intensify his ongoing immigration crackdown.

In the immediate aftermath, immigration authorities suspended processing of all new applications from Afghan nationals. The administration also ordered a comprehensive review of green cards and asylum cases linked to the 19 countries on its 2025 travel-ban list.

Legal analysts are already flagging potential constitutional and international-law challenges. While presidents do hold certain powers to suspend immigration, the breadth and vagueness of this “permanent pause” especially without formal definitions or clear criteria could invite court challenges. Meanwhile advocates warn that such blanket bans risk punishing innocent people, obstructing family reunification, and undermining refugee protections.

Beyond the courts, civil-society groups and immigrant-rights organizations have warned that the policy may instill fear across immigrant communities, encouraging silence, isolation, and distrust. The ambiguous language around “Western civilization” and accusations of being societal burdens deepen concerns over potential scapegoating and discrimination.

For many immigrants and asylum seekers already in the United States, the announcement signals uncertainty, anxiety, and insecurity. Surviving displaced persons and longtime residents alike now face the possibility of denial of benefits, revoked statuses, and potential deportation even without criminal records.

As the world watches, this new chapter in U.S. immigration policy underscores a sharp pivot: from selective bans to sweeping moratoria, from specific nationalities to broadly defined categories. Whether this shift will stand up to legal challenge or reshape America’s humanitarian and immigration landscape remains to be seen.