On November 27, 2025 (Thanksgiving evening), President Donald Trump announced via social media that his administration would "permanently pause" all migration from "Third World Countries" to the United States. This statement came shortly after the fatal shooting of National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and the wounding of another soldier in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national who had entered the U.S. through a special immigrant visa program for Afghan allies.
Trump linked the pause to national security concerns, citing the D.C. incident as evidence of risks from unchecked immigration. He called for a "reverse migration" program to deport millions of existing migrants deemed "non-compatible with Western Civilization" and emphasized reviewing "every Green Card" for immigrants from affected countries.The term "Third World Countries" was not explicitly defined in the post, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) referred inquiries to an existing travel ban enacted in June 2025, which imposes full or partial restrictions on nationals from 19 countries, primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Examples include:
- Full bans: Afghanistan, Burundi, Laos, Togo, Venezuela, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan.
- Partial restrictions: Additional nations like those in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the Middle East.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), presidents can suspend entry for national security reasons, potentially indefinitely. However, such measures often face court challenges, as seen with the 2017 ban. Immigration experts note that an indefinite pause could be contested if it violates congressional laws.Advocacy groups like the American Immigration Council warn that this could prevent family reunifications and exacerbate humanitarian crises. An August 2025 report estimated that citizens from the 12 fully banned countries would be unable to visit relatives abroad.On X (formerly Twitter), the announcement sparked polarized discussions. Supporters praised it as a bold security measure, with posts like one from
@JimDaBink
highlighting Trump's reinstatement of "public charge" rules to deny visas to those likely to use welfare. Critics, including @DebbiDelicious
, decried it as discriminatory, labeling the U.S. itself a "3rd World Country" in response. Semantic searches on X showed related chatter tying it to ongoing debates on mass deportation and visa reforms.