President Donald Trump on Sunday said his administration’s halt on asylum processing in the wake of the deadly National Guard shooting earlier this week could last a long time. He also floated the possibility of revoking citizenship from some naturalized immigrants with criminal histories.

While the administration has framed the asylum freeze as an emergency response to Wednesday’s shooting, the president’s comments to reporters aboard Air Force One suggest the restrictions could evolve into a longer-term approach.

President Trump tied the pause to a more robust stance toward 19 countries he derided as crime-ridden. He vowed that he would absolutely de-naturalize immigrants convicted of crimes if it is within his presidential authority.

“We have enough problems. We don’t want those people.”

Trump added that there was no time limit on the moratorium.

“We have criminals that came into our country and they were naturalized. If I have the power to do it – I’m not sure that I do, but if I do – I would de-naturalize. Absolutely.”

Trump clarified his recent use of the term reverse migration saying it means removing people already inside the U.S.

“Get people out that are in our country – get them out of here.”

Rahmanullah Lakanwal a 29-year-old Afghan national is charged with shooting two West Virginia National Guard members just blocks from the White House on Wednesday.

U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom who was 20 years old was killed in the attack. Her colleague U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe who is 24 years old remains in critical condition.

Both Guard members had been deployed to D.C. as part of Trump’s crime-fighting mission that federalized D.C. police.

Trump said he has invited both Guard members’ family members to the White House.

“I said, ‘When you’re ready, because that’s a tough thing, come to the White House. We’re going to honor Sarah.’ And likewise with Andrew, recover or not.”

Lakanwal faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed in the shooting.

These charges prompted the Trump administration to halt all asylum decisions and pause issuing visas for people traveling on Afghan passports.

The president’s comments about de-naturalization represent a significant escalation in immigration enforcement policy. Current law allows citizenship to be revoked in limited circumstances such as when it was obtained through fraud. Trump appears to be exploring whether that authority could extend to naturalized citizens who commit crimes after becoming Americans.

His description of 19 countries as crime-ridden signals a targeted approach to immigration restrictions. Rather than broad policies affecting all immigrants equally Trump is focusing enforcement on nations he views as sending criminals to America.

The indefinite nature of the asylum freeze marks a departure from typical emergency responses which usually have defined end dates. By refusing to set a time limit Trump is signaling that the restrictions could become permanent features of his immigration policy.

The shooting that triggered these actions occurred just blocks from the White House. The proximity of the attack to the seat of government and the targeting of National Guard members deployed on Trump’s orders made the incident particularly significant.

Specialist Beckstrom was only 20 years old when she was killed. She had volunteered to serve her country and was deployed to help reduce crime in the nation’s capital. Her death has become a rallying point for supporters of stricter immigration enforcement.

Staff Sergeant Wolfe remains in critical condition fighting for his life. Trump’s invitation to his family regardless of whether he recovers shows the president’s personal investment in the case.

The federalization of D.C. police was one of Trump’s early second-term initiatives aimed at reducing crime in the capital. The shooting of two Guard members deployed under this program represents a direct attack on that effort.

Lakanwal’s Afghan nationality has focused attention on immigration from that country. The pause on Afghan passport visas affects not just asylum seekers but anyone from Afghanistan attempting to enter the United States.

Trump’s acknowledgment that he is not sure he has the authority to de-naturalize criminals shows he is testing legal boundaries. His willingness to pursue the policy if courts allow it signals an aggressive approach to removing immigrants who commit crimes.

The phrase reverse migration captures Trump’s broader goal of reducing the immigrant population already present in America. This goes beyond stopping new arrivals to actively removing people who entered under previous administrations.