Federal Agents watch as demonstrators protest along Kedzie Avenue in the Brighton Park Neighborhood as Federal Agents were investigating a shooting on October 4, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
(Photo by Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Reverse Migration Is Not A Cure. It Will Only Make America Weak and Alone
Trump is right about one thing—the US system does need to fully recover. But, the problem is not immigrants. The problem is him.
Dec 02, 2025
On November 28, President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social, “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country.”
This post came after an Afghan national was identified as the suspect in the shooting of Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, two National Guard members deployed in Washington, DC as part of the Trump’s administration nationwide crime-fighting effort. At the time of this writing, Beckstrom has passed, and Wolfe remains in critical condition.
This is a tragedy on multiple fronts. Two victims of another senseless mass shooting. The National Guard should have never been deployed in the first place. Military officials had warned that they would be in danger. This did not need to happen.
But, as a philosopher who specializes in issues of racism and immigration, I can assure you that Trump’s response is another tragedy in the making. His call for “reverse migration” is not a cure. It is the culmination of his yearlong effort to limit migration and strip immigrants of their rights and protections. In January, he issued Executive Order 14160 to restrict the constitutionally-guaranteed right to birthright citizenship. In June, the Trump administration implemented travel bans that fully or partially restrict nationals of 19 countries from entering the US. In October, the Trump administration announced that it will restrict the number of refugees it admits into the US to 7,500, with most slots being filled by white South Africans.
The call for “reverse migration” is a direct warning to all people of color—Trump is telling us we do not belong in his America.
Trump is attempting to politically capitalize on the death of a young servicewoman to further his xenophobic and Islamophobic policies. These policies will make the US weak and alone. They will divide us. Since 2015, the rate of reported hate crimes has more than doubled. Calls for “reverse migration” or to “remigrate” will make all people of color and Muslims, regardless of citizenship status, vulnerable.
This is not hyperbole. We’ve seen this same scenario play itself out repeatedly. After the 9/11 attacks, hate crimes against Muslims rose 1,617% according to the FBI. After China was blamed for Covid-19, violent attacks against Asians and Asian Americans rose. People do not see citizenship. They see skin color and judge who belongs on the basis of that.
No matter his motives, Rahmanullah Lakanwal should be given a fair trial. He should be judged for his actions and held accountable. However, he is an individual. He does not represent all Afghans, Muslims, people of color, or immigrants. Permanently pausing migration from all “Third World Countries” is a drastic overreaction with deeply racist connotations. Phrases like “Third World” or “developing” imply a hierarchy of countries—that some are "backwards" and "lesser." They are used almost exclusively to refer to formerly colonized nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. For Trump, these are “shithole countries.”
These connotations are not absent in Trump’s words. His decision to halt all migration from the “Third World” due to the actions of one man is racist. He is communicating that if one person of color kills someone, then all people of color are dangerous. The call for “reverse migration” is a direct warning to all people of color—Trump is telling us we do not belong in his America.
This is not about being a “net asset.” Immigrants pay taxes, contribute to the economy, and commit fewer crimes than US citizens.
It is also not a matter of “loving our Country.” Immigrants love this country despite the immense abuse they suffer. That’s why they came here. It’s why so many people around the world want to come here.
The problem, however, is that Trump fails to understand that loving this country does not mean blind acceptance or absolute loyalty. Rep. Ilhan Omar, (D-Minn.) for instance, is no less American because she criticizes the Trump administration. It is because she’s American that she stands up for the Constitution.
Love is not about submission. It is about transformation and growth. That's precisely what immigrants do. Whether it be film, music, literature, the arts, the sciences, they prove their love by enriching and broadening our culture.
All that said, Trump is right about one thing—the US system does need to fully recover. But, the problem is not immigrants. The problem is him.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Jordan Liz is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at San José State University. He specializes in issues of race, immigration and the politics of belonging.
On November 28, President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social, “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country.”
This post came after an Afghan national was identified as the suspect in the shooting of Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, two National Guard members deployed in Washington, DC as part of the Trump’s administration nationwide crime-fighting effort. At the time of this writing, Beckstrom has passed, and Wolfe remains in critical condition.
This is a tragedy on multiple fronts. Two victims of another senseless mass shooting. The National Guard should have never been deployed in the first place. Military officials had warned that they would be in danger. This did not need to happen.
But, as a philosopher who specializes in issues of racism and immigration, I can assure you that Trump’s response is another tragedy in the making. His call for “reverse migration” is not a cure. It is the culmination of his yearlong effort to limit migration and strip immigrants of their rights and protections. In January, he issued Executive Order 14160 to restrict the constitutionally-guaranteed right to birthright citizenship. In June, the Trump administration implemented travel bans that fully or partially restrict nationals of 19 countries from entering the US. In October, the Trump administration announced that it will restrict the number of refugees it admits into the US to 7,500, with most slots being filled by white South Africans.
The call for “reverse migration” is a direct warning to all people of color—Trump is telling us we do not belong in his America.
Trump is attempting to politically capitalize on the death of a young servicewoman to further his xenophobic and Islamophobic policies. These policies will make the US weak and alone. They will divide us. Since 2015, the rate of reported hate crimes has more than doubled. Calls for “reverse migration” or to “remigrate” will make all people of color and Muslims, regardless of citizenship status, vulnerable.
This is not hyperbole. We’ve seen this same scenario play itself out repeatedly. After the 9/11 attacks, hate crimes against Muslims rose 1,617% according to the FBI. After China was blamed for Covid-19, violent attacks against Asians and Asian Americans rose. People do not see citizenship. They see skin color and judge who belongs on the basis of that.
No matter his motives, Rahmanullah Lakanwal should be given a fair trial. He should be judged for his actions and held accountable. However, he is an individual. He does not represent all Afghans, Muslims, people of color, or immigrants. Permanently pausing migration from all “Third World Countries” is a drastic overreaction with deeply racist connotations. Phrases like “Third World” or “developing” imply a hierarchy of countries—that some are "backwards" and "lesser." They are used almost exclusively to refer to formerly colonized nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. For Trump, these are “shithole countries.”
These connotations are not absent in Trump’s words. His decision to halt all migration from the “Third World” due to the actions of one man is racist. He is communicating that if one person of color kills someone, then all people of color are dangerous. The call for “reverse migration” is a direct warning to all people of color—Trump is telling us we do not belong in his America.
This is not about being a “net asset.” Immigrants pay taxes, contribute to the economy, and commit fewer crimes than US citizens.
It is also not a matter of “loving our Country.” Immigrants love this country despite the immense abuse they suffer. That’s why they came here. It’s why so many people around the world want to come here.
The problem, however, is that Trump fails to understand that loving this country does not mean blind acceptance or absolute loyalty. Rep. Ilhan Omar, (D-Minn.) for instance, is no less American because she criticizes the Trump administration. It is because she’s American that she stands up for the Constitution.
Love is not about submission. It is about transformation and growth. That's precisely what immigrants do. Whether it be film, music, literature, the arts, the sciences, they prove their love by enriching and broadening our culture.
All that said, Trump is right about one thing—the US system does need to fully recover. But, the problem is not immigrants. The problem is him.
From Your Site Articles
- Immigration Justice Must Be a Climate Fight, Too ›
- On World Refugee Day, Human Rights Defenders Slam Trump's 'Inhumane and Cruel' Decrees ›
- Leading Civil Rights Lawyer Shows 20 Ways Trump Is Copying Hitler's Early Rhetoric and Policies ›
- Trump's Thanksgiving Attack on Immigrants Likened to 'Stuff You Hear Coming Out of White Nationalists' ›
Jordan Liz is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at San José State University. He specializes in issues of race, immigration and the politics of belonging.
On November 28, President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social, “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country.”
This post came after an Afghan national was identified as the suspect in the shooting of Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, two National Guard members deployed in Washington, DC as part of the Trump’s administration nationwide crime-fighting effort. At the time of this writing, Beckstrom has passed, and Wolfe remains in critical condition.
This is a tragedy on multiple fronts. Two victims of another senseless mass shooting. The National Guard should have never been deployed in the first place. Military officials had warned that they would be in danger. This did not need to happen.
But, as a philosopher who specializes in issues of racism and immigration, I can assure you that Trump’s response is another tragedy in the making. His call for “reverse migration” is not a cure. It is the culmination of his yearlong effort to limit migration and strip immigrants of their rights and protections. In January, he issued Executive Order 14160 to restrict the constitutionally-guaranteed right to birthright citizenship. In June, the Trump administration implemented travel bans that fully or partially restrict nationals of 19 countries from entering the US. In October, the Trump administration announced that it will restrict the number of refugees it admits into the US to 7,500, with most slots being filled by white South Africans.
The call for “reverse migration” is a direct warning to all people of color—Trump is telling us we do not belong in his America.
Trump is attempting to politically capitalize on the death of a young servicewoman to further his xenophobic and Islamophobic policies. These policies will make the US weak and alone. They will divide us. Since 2015, the rate of reported hate crimes has more than doubled. Calls for “reverse migration” or to “remigrate” will make all people of color and Muslims, regardless of citizenship status, vulnerable.
This is not hyperbole. We’ve seen this same scenario play itself out repeatedly. After the 9/11 attacks, hate crimes against Muslims rose 1,617% according to the FBI. After China was blamed for Covid-19, violent attacks against Asians and Asian Americans rose. People do not see citizenship. They see skin color and judge who belongs on the basis of that.
No matter his motives, Rahmanullah Lakanwal should be given a fair trial. He should be judged for his actions and held accountable. However, he is an individual. He does not represent all Afghans, Muslims, people of color, or immigrants. Permanently pausing migration from all “Third World Countries” is a drastic overreaction with deeply racist connotations. Phrases like “Third World” or “developing” imply a hierarchy of countries—that some are "backwards" and "lesser." They are used almost exclusively to refer to formerly colonized nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. For Trump, these are “shithole countries.”
These connotations are not absent in Trump’s words. His decision to halt all migration from the “Third World” due to the actions of one man is racist. He is communicating that if one person of color kills someone, then all people of color are dangerous. The call for “reverse migration” is a direct warning to all people of color—Trump is telling us we do not belong in his America.
This is not about being a “net asset.” Immigrants pay taxes, contribute to the economy, and commit fewer crimes than US citizens.
It is also not a matter of “loving our Country.” Immigrants love this country despite the immense abuse they suffer. That’s why they came here. It’s why so many people around the world want to come here.
The problem, however, is that Trump fails to understand that loving this country does not mean blind acceptance or absolute loyalty. Rep. Ilhan Omar, (D-Minn.) for instance, is no less American because she criticizes the Trump administration. It is because she’s American that she stands up for the Constitution.
Love is not about submission. It is about transformation and growth. That's precisely what immigrants do. Whether it be film, music, literature, the arts, the sciences, they prove their love by enriching and broadening our culture.
All that said, Trump is right about one thing—the US system does need to fully recover. But, the problem is not immigrants. The problem is him.
From Your Site Articles
- Immigration Justice Must Be a Climate Fight, Too ›
- On World Refugee Day, Human Rights Defenders Slam Trump's 'Inhumane and Cruel' Decrees ›
- Leading Civil Rights Lawyer Shows 20 Ways Trump Is Copying Hitler's Early Rhetoric and Policies ›
- Trump's Thanksgiving Attack on Immigrants Likened to 'Stuff You Hear Coming Out of White Nationalists' ›
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.