In light of a recent tragedy involving a member of the West Virginia National Guard, President Trump is eager to amplify his ‘reverse migration’ policy. He wants to put more pressure on immigrant communities, particularly targeting those from less affluent countries.
In the wake of the attack, where 20-year-old Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom lost her life, Trump and his key advisors are pushing plans to deport numerous legal immigrants from nations classified as ‘high risk.’ This includes not just undocumented individuals, but also those legally residing in the states.
Trump took to Truth Social to state, “Despite technological advancements, our Immigration Policy has deteriorated overall living standards. I am halting migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to recover fully.” This was posted shortly after he disclosed Beckstrom’s death during a military Thanksgiving call.
The unfortunate shooting, which happened on a Wednesday in Washington, D.C., has led federal authorities to charge Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan citizen who immigrated in 2021 amid the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, with first-degree murder.
Trump emphasized on his social platform, “Only REVERSE MIGRATION can solve this issue completely.” The call was readily echoed by Department of Homeland Security officials, who expressed the need for immediate changes.
The Department of Homeland Security has swiftly suspended processing for all immigration requests from Afghanistan until further security reviews are complete. Additionally, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Joe Edlow stated they would be tightening restrictions for 19 countries identified as ‘high risk.’ As a result, those seeking green cards will face significant hurdles, and asylum decisions are on indefinite hold while every application undergoes rigorous vetting.
Previously, individuals from those countries had already encountered significant travel barriers. A complete ban was imposed on citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, and others, limiting their opportunities for permanent residence and visa applications.
As a direct result of this new policy, applicants from the aforementioned countries will now see a negative impact on their green-card applications, similar to that of committing a crime. Edlow remarked, “American lives come first” while introducing the new approach for immigration officials.
Following the shocking shooting, allegations arose stating the assailant Rahmanullah Lakanwal was previously granted asylum, despite calls for greater scrutiny over asylum and refugee statuses.
A closer examination of past approved refugee cases from the Biden administration is underway, potentially jeopardizing the legal standing of individuals who have already endured meticulous vetting processes.
It remains ambiguous what legal frameworks would enable revocation of asylum approvals unless it was evident that false claims were made or links to terrorism were overlooked.
The situation has escalated scrutiny surrounding immigration in the U.S., as critics from within advocate groups argue that targeting an entire nationality is drastic and unfair. One of these voices, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council, pointed out that punishing the entire group based on the actions of one is misguided.
The coalition responsible for assisting resettlement efforts for at-risk Afghan nationals criticized the blame placed on the actions of Lakanwal, saying they do not reflect the dedication of countless Afghans.
Meanwhile, many Democrats focused their comments on the shock of violence, calling the shooting deplorable.
In a swift turn of events post-shooting, Trump officials have rapidly developed ideas to further restrict legal immigration opportunities, specifically eyeing those who might lack financial stability. This plan involves new strategies to identify and potentially deport individuals deemed undesirable already residing in the country.
On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans to revoke certain tax benefits that immigrants typically receive, highlighting the Trump administration’s ongoing stance to tighten immigration laws.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has advised that it will scrutinize cross-border money transfers to catch individuals illegally residing in the U.S.
Contact Louise Radnofsky at louise.radnofsky@wsj.com and Michelle Hackman at michelle.hackman@wsj.com
