- Trump vowed a sweeping "permanent pause" on migration from "third world countries" and to end federal benefits for noncitizens, triggering swift agency actions.
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly warned against overpromising, signaling GOP fractures and skepticism about deliverable immigration outcomes.
In the wake of a heartbreaking shooting that claimed the life of one National Guard member and left another fighting for survival, President Donald Trump has unleashed a bold – and controversial – pledge to overhaul U.S. immigration policy.
But the move, which includes a vow to “permanently pause” migration from “third world countries,” has drawn an unexpected rebuke from one of his most vocal former allies: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
The announcement, posted late on Thanksgiving to Trump’s Truth Social account, came just hours after the White House confirmed the death of 28-year-old National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom.
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The attack unfolded Wednesday evening near the White House in Washington, D.C., where National Guard troops have been deployed since August amid what the administration calls a “crime emergency.”
Beckstrom and her fellow Guard member, 24-year-old Pfc. Andrew Wolfe, were shot in what authorities described as a targeted assault.
Wolfe remains in critical condition at a local hospital, with prayers pouring in from across the country.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under a Biden-era evacuation program and was granted asylum this April by the Trump administration, was injured in the exchange and is now in custody facing first-degree murder charges.
Lakanwal had previously worked with U.S.-backed military units in Afghanistan during the long war there, adding layers of complexity to the tragedy.
Trump’s Fiery Thanksgiving Pledge
Trump wasted no time linking the shooting to his long-standing hardline stance on immigration.
In a post that began with a seemingly cheerful “a very happy Thanksgiving,” the president quickly pivoted to outrage, writing: “permanently pause migration from all third world countries.”
He went further, vowing to “end all federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens” and deport “anyone who is not a net asset to the United States.”
Blaming refugees for everything from “failed schools” and “high crime” to “urban decay” and ballooning deficits – claims critics say lack empirical backing – Trump singled out Somali communities in Minnesota as emblematic of the “social dysfunction” he attributes to immigration.
The rhetoric echoed his first-term travel bans, which targeted Muslim-majority nations and sparked widespread legal battles before being rescinded by President Joe Biden in 2021.
The response from federal agencies was swift.
The State Department immediately halted visas for Afghan passport holders, while U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended all processing of Afghan-related immigration requests indefinitely.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow announced a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination” of green cards for nationals from 19 countries already under a June travel ban, including Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Somalia.
The Department of Homeland Security expanded scrutiny to all asylum cases approved during the Biden years, though details on the scope remain murky.
Trump, speaking to reporters Friday, framed the shooting as a stark reminder: “This reminds us that we have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country.”
The administration has already moved to cancel Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Haiti, Somalia, and others, potentially upending lives for hundreds of thousands.
Supporters hailed the moves as decisive action against what they see as lax border policies.
“Finally, real leadership,” one Trump follower posted on X, echoing a wave of applause from the MAGA base.
But not everyone in the Republican fold is cheering.
Greene’s Cryptic Caution: Don’t Overpromise and Under-Deliver
Enter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, whose relationship with Trump has cooled dramatically in recent months.
Once a fierce defender – even claiming to have “proof” of 2020 election fraud favoring him – Greene has grown increasingly vocal in her criticisms.
Her resignation from Congress, announced last week and effective January 2026, included a blistering video likening Trump to a “domestic abuser,” a remark that stunned GOP insiders.
On Friday morning, Greene took to X with what many interpreted as a direct shot at Trump’s immigration vow.
“One of the worst mistakes you can ever make is over promise and under deliver,” she wrote.
“It will leave people furious to the point they won’t even appreciate the good things they received. Big promises have and still are being made.”
The post, viewed over 600,000 times, struck a chord amid whispers of GOP infighting.
Greene didn’t name Trump explicitly, but the timing – just hours after his Thanksgiving missive – left little doubt.
It’s a far cry from her past “100% Pro-Trump” bio, which she’s since scrubbed.
Her words tap into broader anxieties within Trump’s base: After years of campaign rhetoric on mass deportations and border walls, implementation has been slower than promised, hampered by courts, Congress, and logistics.
With midterms looming in 2026, any perceived shortfall could erode enthusiasm.
Trump, known for his sharp tongue, responded with uncharacteristic restraint when pressed on Greene’s barbs during a separate dust-up over her resignation.
“I just disagreed with her philosophy… But I think she’s a nice person,” he told reporters Saturday while boarding Marine One.
It’s a softer line than his initial Truth Social salvo calling her exit “great news for the country” and labeling her a backer of “the worst Republican congressman in our history,” Rep. Thomas Massie.
Ripples Through the GOP: Unity or Fracture?
The exchange underscores deepening fissures in the Republican Party as Trump pushes his second-term agenda.
Greene’s pivot – from die-hard loyalist to wary skeptic – could signal trouble for Trump’s immigration push, especially if it alienates firebrand conservatives who demand results, not just rhetoric.
Immigration experts warn the “permanent pause” faces steep hurdles.
“This is escalation on steroids,” said one analyst, noting similarities to the 2017 travel ban that tied up courts for years.
A federal judge last week ordered an end to the D.C. Guard deployment but paused her ruling for 21 days, buying the White House time – but not immunity.
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