After a shooting near the White House reportedly involving an Afghan national, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he plans to impose a blanket halt on immigration from what he described as “Third World countries.” The proposal, outlined in a Truth Social post, would represent one of the most expansive immigration restrictions in modern U.S. history.
Trump argued that the U.S. immigration system has weakened national stability and economic progress, and said he intends to “pause” migration from a broad group of nations to allow the country to “recover.” He also pledged to reverse immigration actions taken during the Biden administration, remove non-citizens he considers security risks, and limit federal benefits for non-citizens. He further suggested revoking citizenship from migrants whom he claims undermine public order—an action that legal experts note would face major constitutional obstacles.
In the same post, Trump asserted that the U.S. foreign-born population is straining public services—citing numbers and claims that independent analysts say are either disputed or unsupported by available data. He linked a range of social challenges, including crime, housing shortages and school performance, to refugee and immigrant communities, without presenting evidence.
Trump also focused on Minnesota, claiming that refugee arrivals from Somalia have altered public safety conditions in the state. He used the post to criticize Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar, both Democrats, framing their immigration positions as harmful. His comments included unverified allegations and personal attacks that have drawn criticism from civil rights advocates and immigration experts.
The announcement is expected to intensify debate over U.S. immigration policy, with significant legal, diplomatic and humanitarian implications if pursued.
