Trump pauses migration for 3rd world countries; is India included?
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump has called for a "permanent pause" on migration from what he calls "Third World countries." The announcement comes after two National Guard members were shot dead by an Afghan national near the White House in an incident that has been labeled as an "act of terror." In his statement, Trump said, "I will permanently pause migration from all Third World countries to allow the US system to fully recover."
Policy details
Trump's immigration policy announcement
He also slammed former President Joe Biden's administration for allowing "illegal admissions" and called America "plain STUPID" regarding its immigration policies. He further said his administration will "remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States...end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens...denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization." However, Trump did not define which countries he considers as "Third World."
Term origins
Historical context of 'Third World' countries
The term "Third World" is believed to have first been used by French demographer Alfred Sauvy in 1952 during the Cold War. Then, it referred to countries not aligned with either the capitalist bloc (First World) or the communist bloc (Second World). The capitalist bloc includes the US and its NATO allies; the communist bloc includes the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies. The Third World were mostly impoverished former European colonies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Term evolution
Modern interpretation and criticism of 'Third World'
Today, the term "Third World" is obsolete but is often used to refer to economically disadvantaged countries. The United Nations classifies 44 countries as Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Haiti and several Pacific nations. However, India is not among these LDCs. Although historically classified as a non-aligned country during the Cold War era, which could put it in the Third World category according to Sauvy's definition, modernly India is viewed as a developing economy.
New terminology
Alternatives to 'Third World' and their significance
In recent times, the term "Third World" has been criticized as disrespectful and outdated. It implies a hierarchy that is inaccurate and misleading. Instead, terms like "developing countries," "least developed countries," or "low-income countries" are preferred. These alternatives are based on assessments by organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank, which categorize countries based on human development or income levels rather than Cold War geopolitics.