Trump Promises to Pause Migration from ‘Third-World’ Countries After DC Shooting

Trump Promises to Pause Migration from Third-World Countries After DC Shooting

In a Thanksgiving address, Donald Trump made on social media, he promised to “permanently pause” migration from “third-world” countries. The post follows a shooting of two National Guards in Washington DC, by an Afghan national who was permitted entry to the U.S. during the Biden administration. We will examine what Donald Trump said, whether there is a direct policy change, who could be affected and what constitutes a third-world country.

What Did Donald Trump Say?

Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving salutation offered a scathing verdict on the U.S. immigration system and the migrant population. Here is some of his comments:

Part of the Trump quote:

“Even as we have progressed technologically, Immigration Policy has eroded those gains and living conditions for many. 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, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and 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 of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization”. These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations, including those admitted through an unauthorized and illegal Autopen approval process. Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation.”

How Trump’s Post Could Translate into Plans

Trump’s comments have already led to some operational changes, such as re-examining certain refugee and resettlement programs and increasing scrutiny of green cards from specific countries. However, much of the agenda remains at the level of political direction rather than detailed legislation. 

Trump said a new immigration policy would be pursued to achieve “a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations.” He stated that he would:

• “Fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen
• “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 of our Country
• “Denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquillity
• Deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization”

Further Comments from Trump’s Post

• Trump bemoaned benefit access for immigrants, saying a migrant earning $30,000 with a green card gets “roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits for their family.” 
• He called the refugee “burden,” the leading cause of social dysfunction in America
• Trump said much of the world’s “Politically Correct” stance on immigration is “plain STUPID”

Is this a Policy or Law?

The news is primarily a policy and political statement at present, rather than a written law with clear legal definitions and deadlines. But the administration can take action without new primary legislation. They may:

• Use the powers of the president to limit or stop entry for people from certain countries for security or foreign policy reasons. Entry has already been paused for Afghan nationals (who were already on the full travel ban list) seeking to enter the U.S. following the news of an Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington DC.
• Inform agencies to be more strict about checking individuals, take longer to process applications, or use existing reasons for not letting people in more aggressively.
• Enhance enforcement operations in the U.S., including increased detentions and removals.
• It is far more challenging to cancel green cards or revoke citizenship from individuals who already possess it than it is to deport/remove individuals from the U.S. Generally, these steps require strong evidence of fraud or specific legal grounds, and the court must review them. The language is broad, but the legal tools are more limited in scope. However, Trump’s administration will test available ways to increase removals, and that could reach green cards, and potentially citizenship.

What is a “Third World” Country?

“Third World” isn’t a legal term in U.S. immigration law. Historically, it has been used to describe poorer or non-aligned countries; however, there is no official list defining what it means. It was first coined by demographer Alfred Sauvy, who placed countries in three groups: 

• The “first world” or capitalist countries during the Cold War
• The “second world” or communist countries during the Cold War
• The “third world” referring to nations that had not been developed within the frameworks of either bloc (the first or second world) during the Cold War.

The phrase typically refers to parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as some other low-income regions, that could be affected. The LDC list is likely the closest thing, defined by the UN as the “least developed countries”. These include:

List of Least Developed Countries (LDC)

• Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, and Zambia

Will Trump Build His Own List of “Third World” Countries?

Trump has categorized 12 countries as countries of concern, and has previously issued a travel ban for:

• Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. 

He also issued a partial travel ban on seven countries, including:

• Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

Beyond ‘countries of concern’ and Trump’s issuance of full and partial travel ban lists, Trump could go further still. He may rely on existing frameworks like the LDC list, or seek to introduce his new list of “third world countries”.

There are countries that Trump has openly criticized before, including Venezuela and Mexico. The future of travel to the US from developing nations could depend heavily on how Trump categorizes them, and the factors (such as economic and political) that he uses to define or redefine the “third world”. 

This might suggest a likelihood that Trump will redefine a list of countries in a similar manner to how the “third world” terminology was used to describe any country that didn’t align with the “first or second world” during the Cold War. 

In another tweet on 27 November 2025, Trump wrote, 

• At the direction of @POTUS, I have directed a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.

If this agenda is implemented, agencies would have to make it work in practice. This could involve utilizing external groups to categorize entities, such as low- and middle-income countries, or compiling lists of “higher-risk” states based on security, migration, or economic factors within the organization. It could mean using the UN list of LDC countries, or it could mean taking this further to factor in ‘developing countries’ or countries with less than favorable relations with the U.S. 

What might it mean for people who are already in the U.S.?

1. People who are U.S. citizens (by birth or naturalization)

The law gives the most protection to people who live in the U.S.:

• Naturalized citizens can only lose their citizenship in extremely limited situations, typically when it can be demonstrated that they committed serious fraud or provided false information on their original application.
• Political disagreement, country of origin, or lawful use of public services are not, by themselves, valid reasons.
• An administration that prioritizes denaturalization may review past applications from certain countries more frequently. This can be time-consuming, even if it doesn’t lead to anything.

2. People who have a green card (lawful permanent residents)

Even though most green card holders won’t lose their status, they will probably feel more pressure:

• A “re-examination” of cases from some countries can mean tougher questioning when you leave and return to the U.S; more file reviews, and a greater willingness to start removal proceedings if fraud or ineligibility is suspected.
• Changes to how “public charge” or similar concepts are defined could be used to target individuals who are perceived as heavily reliant on specific public benefits. However, there are legal and humanitarian limits on how far this can go.
• Prolonged or frequent trips outside the U.S. may be scrutinized more closely, and the argument that a person has relinquished their permanent residence may be more frequently considered.

The practical effect is likely to be increased stress, more administrative problems, and a greater need to follow the rules carefully, rather than a large number of green cards being cancelled. However, this cannot be ruled out, particularly for countries on a potentially forthcoming list of “third world countries”

3. People with temporary visas (students, workers, or visitors)

• Individuals with temporary status are more likely to be affected by policy changes because visa issuance for some nationalities can be slowed, restricted, or halted altogether, even if the underlying category (such as student, worker, or visitor) remains open.
• Consular officers and border agents may do more thorough security checks, longer “administrative processing,” or have a stricter view of what “immigrant intent” means.
• There may be an increase in requests for evidence and higher refusal rates for extensions and status changes, particularly when discretion is involved.

The primary impact on students, professionals, and families who rely on temporary visas is uncertainty. When a routine renewal unexpectedly becomes a lengthy or unsuccessful process, it becomes more challenging to plan for school, work, and family life.

4. Migrants who don’t have papers and those whose status is uncertain

For individuals without status or whose visas have expired, the likely direction is increased enforcement, fewer discretionary reprieves, and a more hostile climate overall. People from certain areas may feel extra pressure, even if they have lived in the U.S. for a long time, have established families, and are employed there.

• The agenda also includes more significant promises, such as increased raids on workplaces and stricter enforcement of rules within.
• More detention capacity
• More close coordination and work with local police departments.

What does this mean for individuals who wish to relocate to the USA?

1. Moving with family

Family-based routes are a key part of the U.S. system, but they are not safe from stricter policies:

• Individuals from certain countries who apply for spouse, partner, child, or parent visas may experience longer wait times, more stringent security checks, and a higher rejection rate, with reasons for denial not always being clearly defined.
• Humanitarian or discretionary parts (such as waivers) might be used more judiciously.
• Even close relatives of U.S. citizens may experience prolonged separation and uncertainty during the review or adjudication of their cases.

2. Work, talent, and “merit-based” paths

Trump has often stated that he supports a “merit-based” system, which focuses on highly skilled workers. In theory, this approach could keep or even open up more paths for high-skilled, specialist migrants, especially in areas deemed economically or strategically necessary.

If the political framing focuses too heavily on security and economic risks from “Third World” countries, even highly skilled applicants may have to undergo more rigorous vetting, wait longer, and face a higher risk of rejection. Multinational companies may relocate jobs or investments to other countries that they perceive as more stable in response.

• Multinational executives, researchers, or innovators could see favorable policies and exemptions.

3. Refugees, asylum-seekers, and humanitarian programs

Humanitarian programs are likely to be one of the hardest hit: 

• Some current resettlement and parole programs for specific nationalities may be put on hold, scaled back, or reviewed more closely.
• Even if the formal legal criteria don’t change, asylum seekers from affected countries may have to undergo more thorough screenings, be detained more frequently, and face a culture of decision-making that is generally more skeptical.
• It may be more challenging to reach the U.S. and request protection if safe-third-country agreements or external processing models are expanded.
• For people who are fleeing violence, persecution, or instability in poorer states, the combined effect is to make their already limited options even more limited.

Real-world Effects

The emotional toll on migrants and their families is enormous. Many people have built lives, careers, and communities in the U.S. in good faith based on one set of rules, but now they see the rules, tone, and risk profile changing around them.

• It instructs agencies and frontline officers to be stricter in close cases.
• It changes the way people think about migration from poorer countries, making it primarily a security or economic threat instead of a mix of risk, opportunity, and humanitarian duty.
• It makes things even more uncertain for millions of people whose lives are based on long-term migration plans, such as students choosing where to study, families selecting where to live, and employers planning cross-border teams.

What Should Those Who are Affected Do?

Here are some general, cautious steps that often make sense in a stricter setting:

• Stay up to date: Don’t just rely on headlines or social media; instead, follow official advice and trusted legal or advocacy groups.
• Keep your paperwork in order. Immigration records, tax returns, work and school history, and police clearances can all be necessary if you are under more scrutiny.
• Don’t take unnecessary risks: think carefully before going on long trips abroad, changing your status without getting advice, or relying on informal arrangements.
• Think about long-term options. For some, that might mean moving as quickly as possible to permanent residence or citizenship if they are eligible. For others, it may mean considering alternative places to live if the U.S. becomes too unstable.
• Seek advice on your circumstances. Discover the best options for you and your family. Our highly qualified immigration lawyers can help you to refine your future inside or outside of the USA.

How Can Our Lawyers at IAS Help You?

Contacting our specialist immigration lawyers at IAS can save you time and money. Understanding the legal routes available to you for the US can be challenging and might result in delays or even a rejection of your application. It is also essential to stay informed about all the latest updates. 

We offer a wide range of services and immigration specialists who can ensure you understand the complete eligibility requirements and criteria of the work permit you qualify for.

Our team at IAS understands the importance of the application and recognizes that it may be essential to your move, whether temporary or permanent, to or from the US. We will work with you to make each step of the process easier. Contact us today by calling +1 844 290 6312.