Review of Residency Status for Nationals from 19 Countries
"Millions Approved During Biden Era to Be Revoked"
The administration of Donald Trump has decided to further strengthen its anti-immigration policies following a shooting incident targeting the National Guard in downtown Washington, D.C. on November 26, the day before Thanksgiving, the biggest holiday in the United States.
On November 27 (local time), President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, "I will permanently halt all migration from Third World countries."
President Trump did not specify which countries he considers to be "Third World" or what exactly "permanently halting migration" entails. In response to a Reuters inquiry about which countries are included, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) replied on November 28 that there are "19 countries subject to entry bans."
In June, President Trump issued a proclamation that completely or partially banned entry into the United States for nationals of these countries. At that time, he designated 12 countries for a full entry ban: Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. He also identified seven countries for partial restrictions: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The shooter in the November 26 National Guard incident was from Afghanistan, one of the countries on this list.
Following President Trump's video message on November 26, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), under the DHS, indefinitely suspended the review of immigration applications from Afghan nationals. However, according to U.S. media reports, the National Guard shooter entered the United States in 2021 after the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan and was granted asylum in April this year, after the launch of the second Trump administration on January 20. U.S. authorities told CNN that the shooter had passed all background checks before cooperating with the U.S. in Afghanistan or entering the United States.
Additionally, President Trump announced that the federal government would suspend all support for non-U.S. citizens and emphasized that immigrants who disrupt social order would be stripped of their citizenship, and foreigners who pose a security threat or are incompatible with Western civilization would be deported. He asserted, "Only reverse migration can fully heal this situation."
President Trump also declared that he would end the entry approvals granted to millions during the Joe Biden administration, stating, "Anyone who is not an asset to America or does not love our country will be expelled." He added that this includes those who were approved for entry through former President Biden's "automatic signature." President Trump has argued that policies approved through Biden's use of an automatic signing machine are invalid. For people from the 19 countries subject to entry bans or restrictions, not only will future visits to the United States be denied, but even those already legally residing in the country may be reclassified and face possible deportation.
Following President Trump's announcement, the Department of Homeland Security plans to launch a comprehensive review of permanent residency status for foreign nationals from so-called "countries of concern," including asylum applications approved under the Biden administration.
Joseph Edlow, Director of USCIS, stated via X (formerly Twitter) that, under President Trump's directive, he has ordered a comprehensive review of permanent residency for all foreign nationals from countries of concern. While the specific countries were not mentioned, CNN reported that USCIS has identified the same 19 countries targeted for permanent migration bans. The background for blocking entry and migration from these countries, and even threatening the status of existing residents, appears closely tied to President Trump's political intent to rally Republican supporters and weaken Democratic supporters through anti-immigration policies.
After the National Guard shooting, President Trump singled out Somalia in northeastern Africa, one of the 19 countries, claiming that "hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees have taken over what was once the prosperous state of Minnesota." These refugees have established communities in Minnesota, and President Trump claimed in his video message that Somali immigrants are harming the United States. Minnesota is a Democratic stronghold and the district of Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American and Democratic member of Congress. President Trump has also harshly criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was the Democratic vice presidential candidate, and Representative Omar.
On November 26, near a subway station close to the White House in Washington, D.C., Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old female National Guard member from West Virginia, was killed in a shooting by Ramannullah Rakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. Andrew Wolfe, a 24-year-old male National Guard member from the same unit, was also shot and remains in critical condition.
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