Experts warn Trump’s plan to halt immigration from 'third world countries' could hit Moroccans hard

A new immigration proposal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump — a permanent halt to immigration from what he labeled “third world countries” — has sparked debate across developing nations, including Morocco, where many fear the move could jeopardize legal pathways such as the U.S. Diversity Visa lottery.

Trump’s declaration, framed as a response to a shooting involving an Afghan national who allegedly killed a member of the U.S. National Guard, also included plans to expel individuals he says “do not adhere to Western civilization.”

Migration experts say the proposal amounts to a form of collective punishment that could block thousands of Moroccans who seek to immigrate legally.

Hassan Bentale b, a researcher specializing in migration and asylum, said the decision “lacks logic and clear justification” and appears aimed at “appeasing far-right voters.”

“The United States is one of the world’s largest recipients of immigrants,” he told Hespress AR. “American companies rely heavily on foreign talent, and much of the country’s scientific and creative innovation stems from being a nation built by immigrants.”

Bentale b said a sweeping ban would impact those who migrate through the Diversity Visa lottery, work contracts or family reunification.

However, he noted that “civil society reactions and the strength of U.S. legal institutions could help limit how far such measures go,” adding that courts “often side with immigrants in similar cases.”

He said such policies may continue “until the end of Trump’s term unless a constitutional court intervenes or a new administration rolls them back.”

Abdelhamid Jemmour, a researcher in South–South migration and development, said the announcement represents a “serious step with severe implications” for Moroccans and others in developing countries.

“If implemented, this means closing the door entirely to citizens of countries like Morocco,” he said. “It raises serious questions of fairness and human rights.”

Jemmour described the proposal as “collective punishment,” which he said violates international legal principles by penalizing large groups for the actions of individuals.

He warned the decision carries “four harmful consequences: punishing innocent people, blocking opportunities for young job seekers, fueling discriminatory rhetoric based on geography or ethnicity, and failing to address the root causes of security concerns.”

He added that migration “is not a crime but a search for a better life,” saying migrants have historically contributed to building the United States economically, scientifically and culturally.

“Punishing them as a single block contradicts the values of freedom on which America was founded,” he said.