President Trump announced that the United States will impose a permanent freeze on migration from what he labeled “Third World countries,” saying the country must stabilize its systems before admitting more foreign nationals.
In a statement posted online, Trump said the pause is intended to reverse what he described as unlawful admissions under the previous administration. He also pledged to end federal benefits for non-citizens and begin deporting immigrants considered security risks or financially dependent on government aid.
The decision followed the recent shooting near the White House in which an Afghan national, admitted under an earlier resettlement program, was charged with killing one National Guard member and critically injuring another. Trump cited the incident as evidence of what he called deeply flawed vetting practices.
Federal immigration officials have already frozen processing for Afghan applicants and initiated a review of green-card holders from countries labeled as high-risk. The administration is preparing additional directives that will determine how the long-term suspension will be implemented.