U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will “permanently pause migration from all third world countries”, a day after two National Guard members were shot near the White House.
Trump confirmed the death of Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two Guard members injured in the Wednesday attack. The suspected gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021, was injured during the attack and remains in custody. He is expected to be charged with first-degree murder. A second Guard member, Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized.
In a post on social media, Trump outlined his reasoning. He said: “The official United States foreign population stands at 53 million people… most of which are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels. They and their children are supported through massive payments from patriotic American citizens… the refugee burden is the leading cause of social dysfunction in America, something that did not exist after World War II.”
Trump also highlighted specific areas of concern, saying: “As an example, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota. Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone.”
He further outlined actions he intends to take, stating: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions… remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our country, end all federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens… denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any foreign national who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.”
Earlier this year, the administration announced a ban on visas for citizens of 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions apply to citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela for certain visitor and student visas.
