“I will permanently stop immigration from all third world countries to completely fix the American system,” Trump wrote in a late night post on his Truth social media platform, using an outdated and offensive term for economically developing countries.
Trump also wrote that he would “deport anyone who is not a net asset to the United States” and “end all federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens of our country, denaturalize immigrants who undermine domestic peace, and deport any foreign national who is deemed a public charge, a security risk, or non-compatible with Western civilization.”
Trump wrote that this would include a special visa program for Afghans who worked with the US in Afghanistan before the Taliban returned to power.
The posts, written on the US Thanksgiving holiday, come after the Trump administration ordered a full review of the permanent residency status of immigrants from 19 countries in the wake of the attack on two US National Guard personnel in Washington DC.
An Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 after working with the US military and intelligence services in Afghanistan has been arrested in connection with the shooting near the White House on Wednesday.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow said on Twitter: “I have directed a full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern.”
The Trump administration had already halted processing of immigration applications from Afghanistan on Wednesday in the wake of the shootings.
Countries listed include Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Cuba, Venezuela
The 19 countries under investigation were named in the June proclamation that initially imposed entry restrictions On citizens of states lacking in screening and vetting protocols.
The countries listed include Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen, as well as Cuba, Venezuela, Chad and Eritrea.
Critics have warned of the policy risks of penalizing hundreds of thousands of lawful permanent residents based solely on nationality.
It is unclear whether the review will lead to annulment or deportation. It was also unclear how Trump’s announcement Thursday might affect the USCIS review.
For now, the administration has framed it as a protective measure aimed at national security in light of the DC attack.
Edited by Shawn Sinico
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