Washington

Despite repeated calls from several United Nations agencies urging the United States to keep its doors open to asylum seekers, President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his resolve to “permanently pause migration from all third-world countries.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which grants the president the authority to suspend the entry of foreign nationals or impose restrictions whenever their admission is deemed harmful to US interests. The White House echoed the same provision in a post on X.

The administration tightened immigration controls on Friday, enforcing new security measures after the State Department temporarily halted visa processing for all travellers carrying Afghan passports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the suspension on X, stressing that national security remains the government’s top priority.

Officials said the move follows Wednesday’s shooting near the White House that left two National Guard soldiers critically injured; one of them, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, later died. The suspect, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, now faces upgraded first-degree murder charges, with prosecutors indicating that additional charges may follow. Authorities have also signalled the possibility of seeking the death penalty.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow confirmed that asylum officers have been instructed to pause all decisions until enhanced vetting procedures are complete, saying the government must ensure “proper scrutiny” of every applicant.

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Trump reiterated on Friday that his administration intends to halt migration from “third-world countries” to curb illegal entries and strengthen national security.