The president’s comments come a day after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday — one of whom has died from his injuries. An Afghan national has been named as the primary suspect.
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“I will permanently halt immigration from all third world countries to completely fix the American system, end millions of Biden illegal entries,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth social platform.
He did not specify what was meant by “Third World” and did not name any countries. But the phrase “Third World” generally refers to countries in the Global South that are still developing or economically disadvantaged.
He also said, “Anyone who is not a pure asset of the United States, or is incapable of loving our country”, would be deported from the US.
Trump said that all federal benefits and subsidies for “non-citizens” would end, and that he would “denaturalize immigrants who undermine domestic peace, and deport any foreign national who represents a public charge, a security risk, or is non-compatible with Western civilization”.
Earlier this year, Trump had announced a visa ban for citizens of 12 countries and a ban on citizens of seven other countries. He has also imposed other restrictions on travel to the US throughout the year.
Here’s what we know.
What has the Trump administration said?
After Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, was arrested and named as a suspect in the shootings of National Guard members on Wednesday, Trump called the shootings a “terrorist act.”
Addressing the media on Wednesday night, he said, “We must now, under Biden, re-vet every single foreigner entering our country from Afghanistan.”
Earlier Thursday, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the immediate suspension of “all immigration requests involving Afghan nationals” indefinitely.
With immediate effect, processing of all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals has been halted indefinitely pending further review of security and screening protocols.
The safety and security of our homeland and the American people is our sole focus and…
– USCIS (@USCIS) 27 November 2025
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow then said on Twitter that, “at the direction” of the President, he had ordered a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.”
Edlow said, “The security of this country and the American people is paramount, and the American people will not bear the cost of the former administration’s reckless resettlement policies.”
Edlow’s office told US media that citizens of countries whose green cards will be reviewed will be added to the Trump administration’s June travel ban list.
In June, “to protect the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats”, the Trump administration announced that foreign nationals from 19 countries would face a full travel ban or partial ban.
The countries with a full ban are Afghanistan, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Those subject to a partial ban – some temporary visas are still allowed – are Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
directed at @POTUSI have directed a full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.
-USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlo (@USCISJoe) 27 November 2025
Thursday night, Trump said on Truth Social that he would impose a “permanent moratorium” on immigration from all “third world countries.”
What does ‘permanent hold’ mean in immigration?
This is unclear.
“In ordinary English, ‘permanent stay’ sounds final, but under immigration law, the term has no defined meaning,” Abhishek Saxena, a New Delhi-based lawyer practicing in the Supreme Court of India who also handles international immigration consultancy, told Al Jazeera.
“In practice, ‘permanent pause’ usually means an open-ended ban with no stated end date, but it is not a legally irreversible situation,” he said.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the President can suspend the entry of immigrants for a certain period of time, indefinitely, or until the President modifies or revokes the proclamation. However, this can be challenged. “If an indefinite ban is in violation of laws passed by the US Congress, such ban or moratorium can be challenged in court,” Saxena said.
Roberto Forin, acting director of the Geneva-based Mixed Migration Center (MMC), said the Trump administration’s ambiguity over who these policies apply to and what they mean by “permanent pause” or “Third World” is deliberate.
“Keeping it undefined allows the administration to indiscriminately intimidate migrant communities in the US and around the world, while privileging itself to use this ban as yet another tool in its transactional approach to foreign policy,” Forin told Al Jazeera.
He said, “I expect sanctions to disproportionately impact poor countries, while sparing countries that can give something in return, such as natural resources or other strategic advantages.”
“The purpose of such announcements is to signal harshness, change the narrative, instill fear and dehumanize migrants – regardless of practical implementation and ultimate legal consequences,” he said.
What will be the impact on people from such countries who are already living in America?
It is unclear how people from those countries will be affected until the names of the countries are listed and the immigration measure is implemented.
However, an August report from the Washington, DC-based American Immigration Council concluded that people from the 12 countries on Trump’s June 2025 full travel ban list “will not be able to see family members living abroad”.
“Under the June order, existing visas cannot be revoked, but people who have left the United States and need to renew their visas after they expire may be subject to restrictions rather than being allowed to return,” the report said.
Saxena said restrictive immigration policies could also indirectly affect people in the US in many other ways.
“First, it will increase scrutiny of pending applications. USCIS could subject applications from citizens of affected countries to additional background checks, longer security checks, or a temporary hold,” he said.
“Secondly, history shows that when a country is placed under tight security review, (visa) processing times often increase,” he said.
“Finally, although the government cannot arbitrarily revoke existing residence statuses, it can audit past immigration filings for fraud, misrepresentation, security concerns or ineligibility under existing laws,” he said.
Saxena said Trump’s announcement that he would halt immigration from “third world countries” would also likely bar spouses, children and parents living abroad from entering the US until the announcement is lifted.
“This creates long-distance separations, delays family-based immigration petitions and hinders family reunification programs,” he said.
“However, people already inside the US cannot be separated from their families simply because a country is listed in a proclamation. Family-unity principles under the Constitution and INA apply when a person is inside US territory.”
What if you have a green card?
On Thursday, the Trump administration told reporters it intends to re-examine all green cards for people from countries included on the June 2025 travel ban list. However, it is unclear how the process will work or whether green cards can be revoked or even revoked.
A green card is a US immigration document that allows an immigrant to permanently reside and work in the country.
US immigration judges have the power to revoke green cards and deport people if found guilty of serious crimes such as murder or rape.
The government can also deport an immigrant on these grounds, including if they consider the person “a threat to public safety or if the person violates their visa”.
However, according to Saxena, the government “has no legal authority to revoke a green card without following due process. Any revocation must follow strict statutory procedures and meet due process requirements.”
Last year, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency detained pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil “based on his speech” while he was protesting against Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza at Columbia University. Khalil was a permanent resident of the US at the time, but ICE accused him of omitting information in his green card application.
In September, a US immigration judge ordered that Khalil be deported to Algeria or Syria, but this has not yet happened.
What other steps has Trump taken this year to restrict immigration?
In addition to announcing re-examination of green cards and travel restrictions on citizens of certain countries, Trump also imposed a moratorium on refugee admissions shortly after resuming office in January.
“The United States lacks the capacity to integrate large numbers of immigrants, and especially refugees, into our communities in a way that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, protects their safety and security, and ensures fair inclusion of refugees,” the White House said in a statement in January.
Then, in late October, the Trump administration announced the lowest refugee admissions cap in the country’s history, limiting admissions to just 7,500 people for fiscal year 2026.
On November 25, according to a memo seen by Reuters news agency, the Trump administration ordered a review of all refugees allowed into the country under the previous Joe Biden administration, and recommended that their permanent residence applications be put on hold.
According to the memo, which was reportedly signed by USCIS chief Aldo, the status and applications of approximately 233,000 refugees who entered the US between January 20, 2021 and February 20, 2025 will be reviewed. The memo cited Trump’s January order barring refugee entry due to national security reasons as a reason.
The US has also cut foreign aid to refugees in host countries.
The Trump administration has also targeted skilled migrant workers in an effort to protect the jobs of American citizens. In September, it increased the application fee for H-1B visas to $100,000 per application. This visa is used by companies hiring foreign employees in the US.
In October, the US Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over visa application fee increases, claiming it could hurt businesses. The case is pending in Washington, DC District Court.
What does this mean for refugees in general?
“Taken together, these measures, especially if they trigger a ‘race to the bottom’ between governments, could have devastating consequences globally, including in countries already ravaged by conflict and violence,” Forin said.
“We see this happening in Europe too, from the system the UK tried to set up to outsource asylum processes in Rwanda, to the centers Italy tried to set up in Albania, none of which worked because they were blocked by the courts at every step.”
“Unfortunately, all of them have contributed to the dehumanization of refugees and migrants, portraying them as mere threats or burdens rather than human beings in need of protection or deserving of a chance at a better future,” Forin said.
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