In the late hours of the night, Donald Trump unveiled a significant escalation in his initiative to deport legal immigrants to the United States following the tragic incident in Washington DC. The assault, which resulted in the death of a National Guard member and serious injury to another, was allegedly carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the US post the fall of Kabul in 2021. Trump, in a series of late-night posts on Truth Social, declared that his actions would not be limited to those associated with the shooting but would encompass any immigrant group he perceives as undermining the country. He emphasized the necessity of “REVERSE MIGRATION” to address the situation and extended Thanksgiving wishes to all except those he accused of opposing American values. Employing the term “third world countries,” the President announced a temporary halt on migration from specific regions, during which individuals deemed not beneficial to the US or lacking love for the country would be targeted for removal.
In his announcements, Trump outlined the elimination of all federal benefits for non-citizens and warned that even citizens could lose their status if they disrupt domestic peace. He expanded his deportation plan to encompass any foreign national considered a burden, security threat, or incompatible with Western civilization. Notably, he clarified that individuals holding green card permanent residency status would not be exempted from the deportation measures.
During his interactions, Trump consistently shifted blame from the Afghan community to the Somali community in Minnesota. He launched derogatory remarks towards Ilhan Omar, a Congresswoman from Minnesota with a Somali background, baselessly accusing her of entering the US illegally and criticizing her origins. Contrary to his claims, Omar legally sought asylum with her family in 1995 and became a US citizen in 2000 without engaging in any illegal activities.
Trump’s statements regarding the Somali community and the DC shooting lacked factual basis, as highlighted by his misleading assertions about the vetting process for Afghan refugees and the Department of Justice’s Inspector General report. Despite facing inquiries about his administration’s involvement in granting asylum to the alleged shooter, Trump evaded direct answers and resorted to denying responsibility.
Furthermore, Trump persistently propagated false claims about illegal immigration figures during Joe Biden’s tenure, emphasizing an exaggerated number of unauthorized entries into the US. He cited data on the foreign-born population to support his arguments, albeit inaccurately, while overlooking the actual statistics and implications of his assertions.
Trump’s discourse reflected a pattern of misinformation and divisive rhetoric, underscoring his contentious approach to immigration policies and his tendency to disregard established facts and realities.