The processing of all immigration applications from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, was recently suspended by the Trump administration citing national security and public safety concerns. This decision came after an Afghan national charged with shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House. The White House’s move was made in the midst of a global migration crisis, where millions of people have left their home countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia for the affluent economies of North America and Europe.
Experts say that although the United States was founded by immigrants, the country has become too popular a destination and now requires action to restore a functioning immigration system. The affected countries by the Dec. 2 memorandum included Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
In August, the Pew Research Center reported that 53.3 million immigrants were living in the United States in June 2025, making up 14.8 percent of the population. This rate is the highest since 1890. The United Nations’ population division data suggested that a record 304 million people lived in a country other than their country of birth. This included 42 million people who left their home country due to persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or other disturbances.
The economic motive is a significant factor in migration, with many migrants using persecution as a justification to pursue better economic opportunities. Cultural differences also play a role in immigration’s impact on host countries. America has historically thrived on attracting immigrants to contribute to innovation, the economy, and society as a whole.
The birth of the immigration law industry in the 1990s allowed migrants to use legal avenues to prevent deportation by claiming asylum in destination countries. This led to the rise of immigration lawyers supporting migrants who entered countries illegally. Despite passing through safe countries, asylum-seekers aimed for specific destinations such as the United States. President Donald Trump has disrupted the status quo, making waves in the legal and immigration spheres. His actions have significantly reduced illegal migration at the southern border and increased inland enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This has also put pressure on countries that have historically refused to take back their citizens. In countries with deep poverty, long-distance migration is unlikely to occur until individuals have some financial stability and exposure to the outside world.
Even if countries like Afghanistan, Syria, or Sudan were to achieve peace and prosperity, it is doubtful that migrants would choose to return. The concept of “unforced remigration” is limited in countries with high per-capita incomes like the United States, Canada, and Germany.
The recent tragic incident involving Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was charged with the murder of Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, has brought attention to the flaws in the vetting process for resettlement programs like Operation Allies Welcome. President Trump has criticized the Biden administration’s lax border policies, emphasizing the need for national security and prioritizing American citizens over unauthorized immigrants.
The global migration crisis is occurring against the backdrop of declining fertility rates in the West compared to the Third World. Countries in Africa have some of the highest fertility rates, while the United States has seen a significant drop in its fertility rate over the decades. This decline poses economic challenges, with experts like Jesús Fernández-Villaverde highlighting it as a pressing issue.
Immigration has been seen as a solution to the declining birth rate in the U.S., with immigrant workers and entrepreneurs playing a crucial role in sustaining the workforce. Addressing the baby bust in America requires a fundamental shift in attitudes towards marriage, families, and child-rearing. It is essential to reevaluate policies that have contributed to this decline and return to values that support strong family units. following sentence: “The cat chased the mouse around the house.”
“The mouse was chased around the house by the cat.”