New York, Nov 28 — In the political upheaval following the killing of a National Guard soldier near the White House, US President Donald Trump has issued one of his strongest warnings yet on immigration. In a late-night post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump threatened to strip citizenship from individuals he claims are disrupting “domestic tranquility” and announced plans to halt migration from all “third world countries.”
Trump said he would “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries” to allow the US to recover from what he called an erosion of living standards and national gains. He did not define the term “third world,” leaving broad room for interpretation. His message escalated his long-running immigration campaign, which earlier focused largely on deporting the estimated 12 million undocumented migrants but now extends even to legal immigrants and naturalised citizens.
Central to Trump’s new proposal is the cultural argument that citizenship could be removed from those “non-compatible with Western Civilisation.” He further announced he would revoke welfare benefits for non-citizens, including Green Card holders, a move that could face significant legal challenges as it contradicts existing federal laws.
The statements came after immigration services head Joseph Edlow confirmed he had ordered a “rigorous re-examination of every Green Card” from individuals coming from what Trump labelled “countries of concern.” That list of 19 nations includes Afghanistan, home country of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the alleged shooter responsible for killing soldier Sarah Beckstrom and critically injuring another on Wednesday.
Lakanwal had been brought to the US under a special programme for Afghans who assisted American agencies, including the CIA, during the Taliban takeover. The incident has now become a flashpoint in the immigration debate.
Trump also said he plans to “denaturalise migrants who undermine domestic tranquility” and deport foreign nationals considered public charges or security risks. He claimed this is necessary to counter what he described as an influx of disruptive populations, some allegedly admitted through an “unauthorised Autopen approval process,” referring to Biden-era executive orders.
In contrast, Trump continues to support migration of skilled professionals, particularly through the H1B programme, although he introduced a $100,000 fee for employers hiring workers from abroad.
Trump’s claims about immigrant welfare dependency were challenged by Bureau of Labour Statistics data, which shows that immigrant men work at higher rates than native-born men and that many immigrants earn above the national median income. For example, Pew Research reports that Indian immigrants have a median household income of $156,000.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration is facing legal challenges after moving to restrict food assistance for certain lawful residents, including refugees and asylum seekers.
The “countries of concern” list includes Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and 13 others, all of which now face heightened scrutiny under Trump’s renewed immigration drive.
