Fast Action: Trump Freezes 19 Danger Nations

Christian Buehner, Unsplash

President Donald Trump ordered a stop to most immigration from 19 high-risk countries in late 2025. This action came right after a shooting near the White House that hurt two National Guard soldiers. The shooter was an Afghan man who came to the U.S. under a program from the Biden years.

The man, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was 29 years old and had worked for U.S. agencies like the CIA in Afghanistan. He got asylum in April 2025. Lakanwal entered through Operation Allies Welcome, which brought over 77,000 Afghans after the U.S. left Afghanistan in 2021. One soldier, Sarah Beckstrom, was 20 and from West Virginia. She died from her injuries. The other, Andrew Wolfe, also 20, is still in critical condition. 

The attack happened last week and raised big questions about how well people are checked before coming to the United States. Trump’s team acted fast by halting asylum and visas for Afghans right away. Now, they are reviewing all asylum cases from after Biden took office in 2021. 

This review could affect over 1.5 million people waiting for asylum and more than 50,000 who already got it under Biden. The goal is to find any risks that were missed before. 

A memo from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told workers to pause all decisions on cases from these countries. The memo says this is to protect Americans from threats like terrorism or crime. It warns about people who might spread hate or break laws. 

Details of the High-Risk Country Ban 

The 19 countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These places were already under travel restrictions since June 2025. Reasons for the list are terrorism risks, poor ID checks, or unstable governments. 

The freeze stops green card processing, citizenship ceremonies, work permits, travel papers, and asylum filings. Officers can’t approve or deny anything until new orders come. This affects tens of thousands of people. Some had dates set for becoming citizens, but those got canceled suddenly. Lawyers say clients showed up for meetings and were sent home with no info. Families who planned to reunite now face long waits. 

The Department of Homeland Security supports the move. A spokesperson said they want only the “best of the best” becoming citizens. USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser added that citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and they won’t take chances with the nation’s future. 

This policy links back to the shooting by highlighting weak vetting in the past. Lakanwal’s case shows how even allies might slip through without full checks. The freeze is part of a bigger plan to fix those issues. 

Green cards given to people from these countries are also under review. The government wants to make sure no threats are already here. 

Trump’s Strong Words on Immigrants and Reactions 

After a cabinet meeting, President Trump called Rep. Ilhan Omar “garbage” and said the same about her friends. Omar is a Somali immigrant and Democrat from Minnesota who became a citizen 25 years ago. Trump said he doesn’t want Somalis in the U.S. 

He claimed Somalis use 88% welfare and contribute nothing. Trump described Somalia as “no good” and a place that “stinks.” He said immigrants from there complain and don’t help make things better. 

Trump warned the country is at a “tipping point” if it keeps taking in “garbage.” He tied this to reports of fraud in Minnesota’s Somali community during COVID. He also criticized Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as incompetent. Omar responded by calling Trump’s focus on her “creepy.” Mayors in Minneapolis and St. Paul defended their Somali communities. They called Trump’s words dangerous and reckless. 

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Somalis are neighbors, friends, and family. The city has the largest Somali group in the U.S. and won’t help ICE with civil cases. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter asked who “we the people” includes, calling the remarks racist and un-American. 

The comments connect to plans for enforcement against Somalis in the Twin Cities. This shows how the freeze divides people on safety and fairness. 

Push for Broader Immigration Reforms 

Texas Rep. Chip Roy introduced the PAUSE Act in November 2025 to stop almost all immigration until big changes happen. The bill would end family chain migration, where relatives sponsor each other. It also stops the diversity visa lottery for underrepresented countries. 

The act limits H-1B work visas and ends a training program for foreign students. It changes birthright citizenship so kids born here to non-citizen parents without full status don’t get it automatically. 

States could limit public schools to citizens and green card holders. Immigrants couldn’t get federal aid like Medicaid or food help until they have full legal status. The bill blocks entry for people tied to the Chinese Communist Party, those following Sharia law, or terror suspects. 

Roy says the system is overwhelmed and needs a break to fix it. He worries about cultural changes, assimilation, and security from things like “Islamism.” Supporters include other Republicans from Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Tennessee. 

Groups that want strong borders like the bill. But economists say it could slow economic growth and hurt jobs in tech and research. It might lower income for Americans, too. 

The PAUSE Act faces tough challenges in Congress, needing 60 votes in the Senate. It could get court fights over the Constitution. This bill ties into Trump’s freeze by pushing for even stricter rules after the shooting. 

In the end, these moves aim to boost safety but spark debates on who belongs in America. 

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