Former President Donald Trump announced on Thanksgiving his intention to "permanently pause migration" from what he termed "poorer nations" in a statement posted to his Truth Social platform.
The announcement followed a shooting incident on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., where two National Guard members were shot, resulting in one fatality. A 29-year-old Afghan national, who previously collaborated with the CIA during the Afghanistan War and resettled in the U.S. through a program for those who assisted American troops, faces charges related to the shooting.
In his social media post, Trump stated, "Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation," adding, "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!"
Trump further asserted that "most" foreign-born U.S. residents "are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels." He attributed crime across the country to these groups, despite data indicating that crime is predominantly committed by U.S. citizens.
Context on Immigration and Crime
Academic research has provided data regarding the relationship between immigration and crime rates. A review of academic literature published last year in the Annual Review of Criminology stated that "With few exceptions, studies conducted at both the aggregate and individual levels demonstrate that high concentrations of immigrants are not associated with increased levels of crime and delinquency across neighborhoods and cities in the United States."
A 2023 study by economists indicated that immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than individuals born in the U.S. This study also found that immigrants have been imprisoned at lower rates for 150 years, consistent with previous research.
Economically, America's foreign-born workers contribute to approximately 31 million jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Specific Claims and Recent Actions
In his lengthy social media post, Trump claimed that immigrants from Somalia are "completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota." He also used the term "seriously retarded" to describe Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Following the shooting incident, Trump called for a reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees who entered the U.S. under the current administration.
On Thursday, Joseph Edlow, the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced that the agency would implement additional screening measures "to the maximum degree possible" for individuals from 19 "high-risk" countries. The specific countries were not named in this announcement. In June, the administration had banned travel to the U.S. by citizens of 12 countries and restricted access from seven others, citing national security concerns.