The administration has recently tightened immigration controls, including a temporary halt on issuing visas to individuals traveling on Afghan passports.
Washington, DC (US), November 30, 2025 — President Donald Trump has doubled down on his plan to “permanently pause migration” from what he termed “third-world countries,” even as several United Nations agencies urge the US government to continue accepting asylum seekers.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump invoked Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which grants the US president authority to suspend or restrict the entry of foreign nationals if deemed harmful to national interests. The White House echoed the same justification in a post on X.
The administration has recently tightened immigration controls, including a temporary halt on issuing visas to individuals traveling on Afghan passports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move, calling it a critical step to ensure national security.
These actions follow heightened concerns after a shooting near the White House that left two National Guard service members critically injured. One of them, Spec. Sarah Beckstrom, later died.
The accused gunman, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is expected to face upgraded charges — potentially including the death penalty — according to prosecutors.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow stated that asylum officers have been instructed to pause decisions until new vetting procedures are completed.
“This pause will remain until we can guarantee thorough screening for every applicant,” he said.
Trump reiterated that his administration’s priority is to stop illegal entries and overhaul the system, reaffirming that migration from certain countries would remain frozen indefinitely.
