U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday night that he intends to permanently halt immigration from third-world countries, arguing that such a move would ease pressure on the United States.
In a series of lengthy posts on Truth Social, Trump criticized the country’s immigrant population, claiming without evidence that many rely on welfare and pose risks to national stability.
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover and terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions,” Trump wrote. He added that he would remove anyone “who is not a net asset to the United States.”
Trump also argued that the “refugee burden” was the main cause of social problems in America.
He blamed political opponents for allowing large numbers of undocumented immigrants into the country and singled out Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, repeating unfounded allegations about her immigration status.
His remarks came only days after a Washington D.C. shooting that killed one National Guard member and seriously injured another. Authorities labeled the incident a terrorist attack, fueling renewed debate over immigrant-related violence.
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, entered the U.S. in 2021 under a Biden administration resettlement program for Afghans who assisted the U.S. military. More than 70,000 Afghans were relocated under the initiative.
Reuters reported that Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved the following April, three months after Trump took office.
Trump’s comments align with his broader anti-immigration agenda. Throughout the year, he has signed multiple executive orders expanding enforcement efforts, including increased federal funding and personnel.
However, these policies have faced criticism for limiting due process in deportation cases—an approach that has triggered legal challenges. Critics have also warned that restricting immigration could harm the economy, given the large role foreign workers play in sectors such as agriculture and other labor-intensive industries.
Trump’s immigration actions have already prompted protests across several major U.S. cities this year.
