In a fiery Thanksgiving missive that blended holiday cheer with scathing immigration rhetoric, President Donald Trump announced sweeping plans to overhaul U.S. immigration policy, including a “permanent pause” on migration from all “Third World Countries.” The declaration, posted late Thursday on Truth Social, comes amid heightened national security concerns following a deadly shooting near the White House that claimed the life of a U.S. National Guard member. Trump’s words signal an aggressive escalation in his second-term agenda, promising what he calls “reverse migration” to “cure” what he describes as decades of unchecked inflows that have strained America’s social and economic fabric.
The Spark: A Tragic Shooting and Renewed Security Fears
The announcement was precipitated by a shocking incident on Wednesday evening, when Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly opened fire on two National Guard soldiers stationed near the White House in Washington, D.C. U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while the second soldier remains in critical condition. Lakanwal, who had served as an interpreter for U.S. forces during the Afghanistan occupation and entered the country legally under a special immigrant visa program, was wounded in the exchange and taken into custody. Authorities have not yet established a motive, but the attack has reignited debates over the vetting of Afghan evacuees resettled after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
Trump wasted no time linking the tragedy to broader immigration failures, particularly those of the preceding Biden administration. “The shooting of U.S. troops on American soil by an immigrant is expected to have far-reaching implications,” noted Reuters in its coverage of the event. In response, the White House has already moved to suspend all immigration reviews for Afghan nationals indefinitely and freeze green card applications for refugees resettled under Biden, according to a Department of Homeland Security memo issued earlier this month.
Trump’s Sweeping Proposals: A Blueprint for “Reverse Migration”
At the heart of Trump’s post is a multi-pronged crackdown designed to reverse what he portrays as an “invasion” of non-contributory migrants. Key elements include:
- Permanent Pause on Third World Migration: Trump vowed to halt all immigration from “Third World Countries” — a term he uses to describe developing nations with high poverty, instability, or crime rates — to allow the “U.S. system to fully recover.” No specific list of affected countries was provided, but experts suggest it could encompass dozens of nations classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti, Yemen, and potentially larger economies like India if interpreted broadly. This pause would extend to family reunifications, work visas, and refugee admissions, marking a departure from even his first-term travel bans, which targeted specific Muslim-majority nations.
- Termination of Biden-Era Admissions: The president pledged to “terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen,” referring to automated signature processes allegedly used to expedite entries. This could affect up to 53 million foreign-born residents, per U.S. Census data cited by Trump, many of whom he claims rely on welfare and contribute to social dysfunction.
- Deportations and Denaturalizations: Individuals deemed “not a net asset” to the U.S. — or those “incapable of loving our Country” — face removal. Trump also called for denaturalizing migrants who “undermine domestic tranquility” and deporting foreign nationals labeled as public charges, security risks, or “non-compatible with Western Civilization.” “Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation,” he declared, envisioning mass returns to restore pre-World War II levels of homogeneity and stability.
- End to Federal Benefits: All subsidies and welfare for non-citizens would cease, targeting what Trump estimates as $50,000 in annual family benefits for a migrant earning $30,000.
Trump’s rhetoric spared no one, including pointed attacks on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — whom he called “seriously retarded” — and Rep. Ilhan Omar, deriding her as the “worst Congressman/woman” from a “decadent, backward, and crime-ridden nation.” He lambasted Somali migrant communities in Minnesota for alleged gang violence and urban decay, framing them as emblematic of broader failures.
Immediate Actions and Implementation Challenges
The administration has already begun operationalizing parts of the plan. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow announced a “full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern” — initially targeting 19 nations, including Afghanistan and Somalia. This review, ordered directly by Trump, could lead to revocations and deportations for thousands.
Yet, legal and logistical hurdles loom large. Congress has stymied comprehensive immigration reform for years, and federal courts struck down several of Trump’s first-term executive actions as unconstitutional. Critics argue the vague “Third World” designation invites lawsuits over discrimination, while implementation would strain an already overburdened immigration system. “It was not immediately clear which countries would be targeted or how Trump would look to implement such a ban,” Axios reported.
Reactions: From Praise to Outrage
The proposal has polarized the nation and beyond. On X (formerly Twitter), supporters hailed it as a bold defense of American sovereignty. “Every country is slowly moving in that direction — protect your economy, protect your citizens,” wrote user @Gr_Enny, echoing a sentiment that migration should be “earned, not given.” Trump ally @WallStreetApes celebrated with a simple “BOOM,” garnering thousands of likes.
Opponents decried it as xenophobic and economically shortsighted. Immigrant rights groups warned of humanitarian crises, noting the policy could strand millions fleeing persecution, conflict, or climate disasters. “This is a country of ignorant folks who feel ppl of color is the problem,” lamented @fenixfoundation. International outlets like The Hindu highlighted its “huge global implications,” potentially disrupting remittances to developing economies. Even some conservatives expressed caution over the term “Third World,” seen as outdated and derogatory.
Broader Implications: Security, Economy, and Global Order
Proponents argue the pause addresses real strains: overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages, and rising crime in migrant-heavy areas like Minnesota, where Somali gangs have reportedly proliferated. Economically, it could reduce welfare expenditures — estimated in the tens of billions annually — and prioritize high-skilled inflows, aligning with Trump’s “America First” ethos.
Detractors counter that immigrants drive innovation and growth; foreign-born workers founded 55% of U.S. unicorns, per the National Foundation for American Policy. A blanket pause risks labor shortages in agriculture, tech, and healthcare, while alienating allies in the Global South. Globally, it could embolden similar restrictions in Europe and Asia, reshaping migration flows and exacerbating brain drain in origin countries.
As Thanksgiving plates clear, Trump’s words hang heavy: “You won’t be here for long!” to those he deems unfit. Whether this “reverse migration” becomes law or another flashpoint in America’s divided immigration saga remains to be seen. For now, it underscores a president unbound, wielding the bully pulpit to redraw the nation’s borders — one Truth Social post at a time.