On November 27, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he plans to ‘permanently pause migration from all Third World countries.’ The statement came a day after an Afghan national shot two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington, D.C.
Trump said the pause is meant to give the U.S. immigration system time to ‘fully recover.’ He also stated that millions of pending admissions under previous administrations could be reviewed and non-citizens considered security risks or not ‘net assets’ to the country could face deportation. He further hinted at ending federal benefits for migrants from these countries.
Which countries are considered ‘Third World’?
Trump did not provide a specific list in his announcement, leaving the term vague. However, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), new guidance allows officials to consider ‘negative, country-specific factors’ when vetting migrants from 19 high-risk countries. These countries are: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Burundi, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela and Yemen.
These nations are considered high-risk due to security concerns, political instability and other challenges. Many are also among the world’s poorest and least-developed, making them the primary focus of Trump’s immigration pause.
Because no official detailed criteria or list was released in Trump’s statement, the exact scope of the policy remains unclear. Analysts warn that the vagueness could create confusion and lead to legal challenges for migrants from these countries.
This announcement marks a major shift in U.S. immigration policy, potentially affecting large numbers of people from developing nations. The decision has already sparked controversy and raised questions about its legal, humanitarian and diplomatic implications.
