U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the suspension of decisions on all refugee applications could remain in place for an extended period, emphasizing that there is no timeline for lifting the halt. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the United States does not want to accept people from countries he described as troubled or unsafe, adding that the nation already faces numerous domestic challenges.
According to Trump, some Third World countries are “not good” and are “filled with crime,” arguing that nations unable to care for their own citizens should not expect the United States to take responsibility for those seeking refuge. His comments reflect a continuation of his administration’s restrictive immigration stance, which has intensified in recent weeks.
During the conversation with journalists, Trump also directed criticism toward Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Omar, the first Somali-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, arrived in the United States as a refugee over twenty years ago. Trump has frequently used Somalia as an example of countries whose citizens’ migration he opposes, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups and immigrant-rights advocates.
It is worth noting that the United States government announced just two days earlier that all decisions relating to refugee applications had been paused. The move forms part of broader immigration restrictions that the administration says are aimed at strengthening national security, but critics argue that the measures unfairly target vulnerable populations and undermine America’s longstanding humanitarian commitments.
