Trump says asylum freeze could be indefinite, considers denaturalizing criminal naturalized immigrants
President Trump said he would "permanently pause" migration from poorer or "Third World" countries and invoked INA §212(f) to halt entry and asylum processing — USCIS has paused affirmative asylum decisions and been directed to reexamine green cards and admissions from a set of countries — a moratorium he said could last "a long time" with "no time limit" and tied to the recent D.C. National Guard shooting. He also vowed to revoke what he called millions of Biden-era admissions, end federal benefits for noncitizens, remove those deemed public charges or security risks, and said he would seek to denaturalize naturalized immigrants convicted of crimes if he has the legal authority.
📌 Key Facts
- President Trump posted that he will “permanently pause” migration from poorer/“Third World” countries and used the phrase “Only REVERSE MIGRATION,” which he later clarified means removing people already inside the U.S.; he said the asylum-processing halt could last “a long time” with “no time limit.”
- Trump said he would revoke what he called “millions” of Biden-era admissions, end federal benefits for noncitizens, remove foreign nationals deemed public charges, security risks or “non-compatible with Western Civilization,” and would “absolutely” seek to de‑naturalize immigrants with criminal convictions if he has the legal authority.
- USCIS announced it has halted all affirmative asylum decisions, DHS has halted immigration requests from Afghanistan, and USCIS Director Joseph Edlow was directed to carry out a “full scale, rigorous reexamination” of every Green Card for people from 19 countries of concern (including Somalia); reports note a same‑day order to reexamine green cards from Somalia and 18 other countries.
- Trump invoked INA §212(f) in a Truth Social post as the statutory authority to suspend entry of classes of noncitizens, and the White House rapid‑response account amplified the post as “one of the most important messages ever released by President Trump.”
- The post included derogatory language aimed at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar and the Somali community in Minnesota, and prompted immediate responses (e.g., Gov. Walz’s “Release the MRI results”).
- Trump tied the policy push to the D.C. National Guard shooting, naming the suspected gunman Rahmanullah Lakanwal (an Afghan parolee admitted under Operation Allies Welcome) and naming victims Sarah Beckstrom (killed) and Andrew Wolfe (in critical condition).
- Reporting describes existing and expanding third‑country deportation arrangements (examples cited: Venezuelans sent to El Salvador; other migrants sent to Eswatini and South Sudan; Rwanda has agreed to accept deportees).
- Analysts and former officials noted many announced changes mirror policies already being implemented via executive actions; reporting also provided context that immigrants are generally found to be less likely to commit crimes than U.S.‑born residents and that foreign‑born workers hold a large share of U.S. jobs (BLS ~31 million).
📊 Relevant Data
From 2020 to 2025, there were 8 jihadist terrorist attacks and 10 disrupted plots in the United States, averaging about 3 per year.
Jihadist Terrorism in the United States — Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Eighty percent of US jihadists since September 11, 2001, have been US citizens or residents, with more than 40 percent being natural-born US citizens.
Jihadist Terrorism in the United States — Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
By 2019, US-born men were being incarcerated at rates around 3,000 per 100,000, while immigrant rates stayed below 1,500 per 100,000.
The immigration–crime link — American Economic Association
In 2024, violent crime in Washington, DC decreased by 35 percent from 2023, and homicides decreased by 32 percent.
District Crime Data at a Glance — Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
"The City Journal piece argues that the Trump administration is deliberately using immigration and economic policy to reshape the electorate in Republicans' favor, but it questions whether those changes will survive legal challenges, demographic trends, and political backlash."
"A Fox News opinion argues the Trump administration should invoke broad 8 U.S.C. §1182(f) authority and demand high injunction bonds — rather than country‑by‑country bans — to make an indefinite immigration/asylum pause legally defensible, citing asylum fraud and public‑charge costs as justifications."
📰 Sources (9)
- Trump said the administration’s asylum-processing halt could last “a long time” with “no time limit” on the moratorium.
- He said he would “absolutely” seek to de-naturalize immigrants with criminal convictions if he has the legal authority.
- Trump clarified his “reverse migration” phrase as removing people already inside the U.S.
- He said he invited the families of the two National Guard members shot near the White House to the White House to honor them.
- Trump explicitly highlighted INA §212(f) in a Saturday Truth Social post as authority to suspend entry of classes of noncitizens, quoting the statute’s language.
- Article reiterates that USCIS announced Friday it had halted all affirmative asylum decisions.
- Context links the post to the D.C. National Guard shooting, naming the suspect (Rahmanullah Lakanwal) and victims (Sarah Beckstrom, deceased; Andrew Wolfe, critical).
- Article reiterates Trump’s pledges to 'permanently pause' migration from nearly 20 countries and revoke 'millions' of prior admissions, noting many measures were already moving via executive orders since January.
- Andrea Flores, a former White House immigration adviser, states the announced changes largely highlight practices already being implemented.
- NPR quotes Trump’s exact Truth Social line: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.”
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said he was directed to conduct a “full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.”
- NPR adds destinations for third‑country deportations now being used: Venezuelans sent to El Salvador; other migrants sent to Eswatini and South Sudan; Rwanda has agreed to accept deportees.
- DHS told CNN it already halted all immigration requests stemming from Afghanistan and is reviewing “all” asylum cases approved under former President Biden.
- NPR references a June White House proclamation imposing full travel restrictions on 12 countries and partial restrictions on 7 more.
- CBS adds Gov. Tim Walz’s response to Trump’s Thanksgiving post: "Release the MRI results."
- Article reiterates the same-day order to reexamine green cards from Somalia and 18 other countries in the context of the rhetoric.
- Notes additional targeted language directed at Rep. Ilhan Omar and claims about Somali refugees in Minnesota.
- Trump’s phrasing that he wants to 'permanently pause migration' from poorer countries, alongside 'Only REVERSE MIGRATION' language.
- Additional direct quote: 'HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL... You won’t be here for long!' aimed at people he accused of 'hate, steal, murder, and destroy.'
- Claim attributed to Trump that 'most' foreign-born residents are on welfare or from prisons/mental institutions/gangs/cartels.
- Contextual data point: BLS estimate that foreign-born workers hold nearly 31 million U.S. jobs.
- Academic context: cites Annual Review of Criminology finding immigrants are generally less likely to commit crimes than U.S.-born citizens.
- Notes that recent enforcement has targeted sites including construction locations and schools; officials pledge to reexamine millions of legal immigrants following the D.C. Guard shooting.
- Trump outlined added measures: revoking what he called 'millions' of Biden-era admissions and entries, ending federal benefits for noncitizens, and denaturalizing migrants accused of undermining 'domestic tranquility.'
- He said he would remove foreign nationals deemed public charges, security risks, or 'non-compatible with Western Civilization.'
- The post was tied to the D.C. shooting of two National Guard soldiers; Trump announced Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died and said Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.
- The suspected gunman was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome (Afghan parole).
- Trump's additional quote: 'Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation,' followed by a Thanksgiving message implying removals.
- White House rapid-response account amplified the post, calling it 'one of the most important messages ever released by President Trump.'
- Trump’s post included a derogatory slur aimed at Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz while alleging Somalis are 'taking over' Minnesota.
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the agency will take additional steps to screen people from 19 'high-risk' countries 'to the maximum degree possible.'