President Donald Trump holds up a photograph as he speaks to reporters after speaking to troops via video from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla.
Alex Brandon/AP
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Alex Brandon/AP
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump made a controversial statement on Thanksgiving, vowing to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations in a late-night social media post.
This came after the tragic shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., one of whom passed away shortly before Trump addressed U.S. troops via video on Thursday evening.
A 29-year-old Afghan national, who had previously worked with the CIA, was arrested for the shooting. The suspect had immigrated to the U.S. as part of a program to resettle individuals who had assisted American troops in Afghanistan.
Trump’s statement about halting immigration could have far-reaching consequences for a nation built on welcoming immigrants.
Since taking office, Trump’s immigration policies have led to raids and deportations, causing disruptions in communities across the country. More deportations could pose economic risks, as foreign-born workers account for a significant portion of the U.S. workforce.
In his social media post, Trump claimed that most foreign-born U.S. residents are on welfare or have criminal backgrounds, attributing crime in the country to immigrants.
However, research has shown that immigrants are actually less likely to be incarcerated compared to U.S.-born individuals. Studies have consistently refuted Trump’s assertions about the relationship between immigration and crime.
Despite the evidence, Trump continued to make inflammatory remarks, targeting immigrants from specific countries and making derogatory comments about political figures.
Following the shooting incident, Trump called for a reexamination of all Afghan refugees who arrived in the U.S. during the Biden administration.
The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced additional screening measures for individuals from 19 “high-risk” countries, without specifying which countries. This move follows previous restrictions on travel to the U.S. from certain nations due to national security concerns.
