Former President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping immigration proposal on November 23, 2023, which aims to suspend immigration from what he describes as ‘Third World’ countries. This announcement was made via a post on Truth Social and comes in the wake of a tragic shooting incident near the White House that resulted in the death of a National Guard member.
In his late-night Thanksgiving post, Trump characterized his plan as a ‘reverse migration’ strategy, emphasizing a permanent halt to immigration from countries he has labeled as ‘Third World.’ He criticized the Biden administration’s immigration policies, proposing a rollback of what he claims are ‘millions’ of admissions granted during President Joe Biden‘s tenure. Trump specifically mentioned the revocation of entries signed by Biden’s autopen, indicating a need for more stringent immigration controls.
Trump’s Proposal Details
Trump’s immigration plan includes several key measures aimed at addressing what he perceives as an overwhelmed U.S. immigration system. He pledged to remove foreign nationals he considers to be public charges or security risks, as well as those he believes are ‘non-compatible with Western Civilization.’ In addition, he vowed to end federal benefits for noncitizens and expand deportation efforts.
The former president stated that his approach would allow the U.S. immigration system to ‘fully recover,’ asserting that the current levels of immigration are detrimental to national interests. His announcement reflects an ongoing commitment to a hardline stance on immigration, which has been a central theme of his political platform.
Shooting Incident Near the White House
Trump’s immigration announcement coincided with heightened security concerns following the shooting of two National Guard members just blocks from the White House. One of the guardsmen, Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, from West Virginia, was confirmed dead. The second service member, Andrew Wolfe, aged 24, remains hospitalized and is reportedly in critical condition.
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is believed to have entered the United States legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to assist Afghan allies following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In his social media post, Trump mentioned the shooting incident while advocating for his immigration policies, concluding with a stern warning to those he perceives as undermining American values: “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 juxtaposition of Trump’s immigration plan with the recent violence highlights the ongoing national debate surrounding immigration, security, and public safety. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these proposals will resonate with both the public and lawmakers.