Trump announces review of green cards and suspension of immigration from “Third World countries”

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  Newsroom

• November 28, 2025

• Newsroom

Trump announces review of green cards and suspension of immigration from “Third World countries”

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (27) one of the toughest immigration measures of his second term. In an official statement, Trump declared that the United States will permanently suspend immigration from all countries he classifies as “Third World”, as part of an effort, according to the government, to “restore national security.” The announcement was published on the official White House account.

The declaration comes after an attack that left a National Guard soldier dead and another critically injured in Washington, D.C., involving an Afghan national who had entered the country as a refugee. The episode has been used as a political catalyst to justify tightening immigration rules. In his statement, Trump said: “I will permanently suspend immigration from all Third World countries to allow the American system to fully recover.”

In addition to halting new immigration processes, the administration ordered a rigorous review of all green cards issued to citizens of 19 countries classified as “countries of concern,” including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Cuba, Yemen, and Venezuela, among others. According to the New York Post, permanent residents may undergo new screenings related to security, background, and socioeconomic status, and could even lose their residency status if they fail to meet the new criteria.

The package also includes an end to federal benefits, subsidies, and public assistance for non-citizens. According to CNN Brasil, immigrants considered “public charges,” “net liabilities,” or “incompatible with Western civilization,” in the terms used by Trump, may be moved to priority deportation lists. Civil rights organizations criticized the language, noting that it opens space for discrimination based on nationality and socioeconomic vulnerability.

The announcement has prompted immediate reactions from human-rights groups, academics, and immigration organizations. Advocates warn that a “permanent pause” in immigration and a mass review of green cards could impact millions of people who have lived legally in the United States for years, including essential workers, students, tech professionals, refugees, and mixed-status families. Experts also highlight potential diplomatic tensions with affected countries and possible legal challenges.

Despite criticism, the White House maintains that the measures are necessary to “ensure national security” and “rebuild the integrity of the immigration system.” The administration has not yet released the official list of countries included in the “Third World” designation, nor details about the criteria that will be used in the green-card reassessment.