Trump Justifies Permanent Pause on Migration, Highlights Public Safety Priority (Source: History.com)
US President Donald Trump justified permanently blocking migration from all third-world countries by invoking Section 212(f) of the INA. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump explained that under the rule, the president can suspend entry of any aliens or class of aliens if he considers their admittance detrimental to US national interests. Trump said this gives him the power to impose or suspend entry of immigrants or nonimmigrants as he sees fit to safeguard the nation.
Trump's position has been criticized by a number of UN organizations. The UN human rights office is said to have called on the US to keep admitting asylum seekers. Trump, however, remained unfazed, suggesting on social media that his policies may include denaturalising migrants who jeopardize US domestic tranquility, ending all federal benefit programs for non-citizens, and deporting foreign nationals who are deemed a public charge, a security risk, or inassimilable to Western culture. Implementation details of these policies have not been given by the White House or Department of Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, concrete steps in line with the migration halt have already begun. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed that asylum officers were instructed to stop all decisions until enhanced vetting is done for every applicant, citing public safety as the top priority. In its part, the US State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, suspended visa issuance for all Afghan passport holders due to security concerns. Rubio stressed that protecting the nation and its citizens remains the administration's highest priority.
The new migration restrictions were announced after a recent shooting near the White House left two National Guard soldiers critically injured. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, later died from her wounds while Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in a hospital and is reportedly fighting for his life, according to the president. The alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is expected to face first degree murder charges, with several other counts to follow, said US attorney Jeanine Pirro.
The pause affects all asylum claims, including applications from migrants seeking protection due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. According to reports from the Washington Post, by the end of 2024, USCIS had more than 1.4 million pending affirmative asylum claims. Officials said the suspension is likely to increase delays in processing applications.
Administration Emphasizes National Security The Trump administration believes the actions are necessary to protect the nation and public safety. Officials emphasized that careful vetting and cautious entry policies are intended to safeguard US citizens while balancing humanitarian concerns and addressing global criticism.
