President Donald Trump has called for a policy of "reverse migration" in the United States, outlining a significant escalation of his administration's crackdown on immigration. This move comes in the wake of a tragic shooting in Washington that resulted in the death of a U.S. Army National Guard member.
Trump's Sweeping Immigration Orders
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform late Thursday, the president detailed a hardline approach that includes halting admissions from what he termed "Third World" countries and revoking citizenship for some naturalized migrants. Trump also declared he would end all federal benefits for non-citizens, though he provided no specific details on how these policies would be implemented or which nations would be affected by the ban.
The administration's aggressive stance follows the Thanksgiving eve attack by an Afghan national that claimed the life of 20-year-old U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and injured another guardsman. Trump personally announced Beckstrom's death earlier in the day, using the tragedy to amplify his anti-immigration policies.
Immediate Actions and Legal Challenges
Following the shooting, the White House immediately halted Afghan immigration proceedings and ordered a review of those already in the United States. The administration had already planned to review cases of all refugees resettled under the Biden administration and freeze their green card applications, according to an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg earlier this month.
Joseph Edlow, the head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, confirmed on social media that his agency is conducting "a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern" under Trump's orders.
This represents the latest in a series of immigration restrictions implemented by the Trump administration. In June, the White House announced a ban on immigration from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Somalia and Sudan, with restrictions on seven others.
Broader Enforcement and Legal Battles
The administration has pursued aggressive immigration enforcement measures, deploying ICE teams to cities over the objections of local officials. Critics allege that authorities are wrongfully deporting migrants in violation of court orders and other legal protections.
Among other significant changes, the administration has: sharply reduced the refugee admissions cap, ended temporary protected status for migrants from several countries, imposed a US$100,000 application fee for H-1B visas used by tech companies and universities, and revoked thousands of visas. The administration is also challenging the constitutional right to birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
Upon returning to office in January, Trump signed an executive order halting all refugee admissions, which was promptly challenged in court. While an appeals court allowed new admissions to be paused during litigation, it ordered the government to continue providing services to refugees who had already arrived in the country.
The United States has admitted more than 190,000 Afghans since the 2021 fall of Kabul to the Taliban, predominantly those who assisted U.S. forces and their families during the war. These individuals now face increased scrutiny under the administration's latest policies.
