WASHINGTON ‒President Donald Trumpsaid his administration will "permanently pause" migration from all "Third World Countries"following the death of a National Guard memberfrom an attack in Washington DC allegedly carried out by an Afghan national.
Trumpannounced the movein a series of anti-immigrant posts on social media Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, writing that halting immigration will allow the United States to "terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions" and "remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country."
Trump said his goal is to achieve a "major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations," adding that "Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation. Other than that, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL."
More:Trump warns of immigration crackdown: DC National Guard shooting updates
2 National Guard troops shot near White House in Washington, D.C.
Trump did not specify which nations qualify as "third world countries," a term used to refer to poor, less developed nations.
The suspect in the DC shooting, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the U.S. in 2021 as part of aBiden-era asylum programthat was created to evacuate Afghans who were vulnerable to new Taliban control after the end of U.S. occupation in Afghanistan and its 20-year war in the country. Lakanwal was later granted asylum by theTrump administration in April.
Authorities on Thanksgiving announced one of the two victims in the shooting, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, had died. The other victim is Andrew Wolfe, 24, also of West Virginia.
In another post on Truth Social,Trump attached a photo of a packed plane of Afghans being airlifted from Afghanistan.
"This is part of the horrendous airlift from Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands of people poured into our Country totally unvetted and unchecked. We will fix it, but will never forget what CrookedJoe Bidenand his Thugs did to our Country!" Trump said.
More:National Guard shooting revives warnings of Biden-era refugee program
In a subsequent post, Trump called out Americans who have been "Politically Correct and just plain STUPID, when it comes to Immigration."
Trump recited false claims that most foreign-born people in the United States are from "prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels." He also argued without evidence that "Patriotic American Citizens" are funding government programs for migrants and their children.
Trump added that the "refugee burden is the leading cause of social dysfunction in America, something that did not exist after World War II." He pointed to "Failed schools, high crime, urban decay, overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages, and large deficits, etc."
Trump singled out Minnesota, arguing that "hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota," launching criticisms of Gov.Tim Walzand Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump vows to halt migration from all 'Third World Countries'