Trump Proposes New Immigration Policies Following Shooting Incident
President Donald Trump is making headlines with his recent proposal to “permanently pause migration” from less affluent countries, aiming to expel millions of immigrants by revoking their legal status. He attributes various societal issues, ranging from crime to housing shortages, to immigrants, and calls for “REVERSE MIGRATION” as a solution.
These statements follow a violent incident in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard members were shot during a patrol. The shooting resulted in one death and left another critically injured. A 29-year-old Afghan national, associated with the CIA during the Afghanistan conflict, is facing charges in connection to the shooting. This individual was part of a resettlement initiative for those who assisted U.S. forces after their withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Trump’s remarks against immigration represent the most severe since his return to the presidency. He insists that immigrants significantly contribute to America’s “social dysfunction” and stated on Truth Social that “Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation.” He further added, “Other than that, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for — You won’t be here for long!”
The president’s promise to curtail immigration could profoundly impact a nation historically recognized for welcoming immigrants. Since the shooting near the White House, Trump’s administration has indicated plans to reassess millions of legal immigrant statuses, intensifying efforts over the past ten months to reduce the immigrant population.
Trump’s election campaign strongly focused on reducing illegal immigration, and his administration has conducted numerous raids and deportations, affecting communities nationwide. Construction sites and educational institutions have often been targeted. The potential for escalated deportations raises concerns about economic repercussions, given that foreign-born workers hold approximately 31 million jobs in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed that “most” foreign-born residents are on welfare or associated with criminal elements. However, studies indicate that immigrants are generally less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. A review in the Annual Review of Criminology noted that high concentrations of immigrants are not linked to increased crime rates in U.S. neighborhoods and cities.
Moreover, a study from 2023 highlighted that immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated compared to U.S.-born individuals, a trend consistent for over a century.
Trump’s declaration also includes plans to revoke benefits for non-citizens, denaturalize individuals deemed to disrupt “domestic tranquility,” and deport those considered “non-compatible with Western Civilization.”
Recently, Trump criticized immigrants from Somalia, asserting they have “completely taken over” Minnesota, using derogatory language against the state’s governor, Tim Walz. Additionally, he advocated for a thorough review of Afghan refugees admitted under the Biden administration. Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced plans to intensify screening of immigrants from 19 “high-risk” countries, although these nations remain unnamed.
The shooting incident that sparked Trump’s latest comments involved suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal, accused of shooting National Guard members Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who succumbed to her injuries, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who remains in critical condition. Lakanwal, who also sustained non-life-threatening injuries, is currently detained.
When questioned about whether he blamed all Afghan immigrants for the shootings, Trump responded, “No, but we’ve had a lot of problems with Afghans.”
