The administration widens immigration restrictions, and imposes new FDA requirements.
Trump’s 45th week ended with developments in immigration, legislation, settlements and health policy. Following a previous report from The Introspective detailing the shooting of two National Guard members and the subsequent death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, the Trump administration said it will investigate green cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern.” Trump later said he would suspend all immigration from developing countries, raising concerns about increasing anti-immigrant sentiment as the administration also paused all asylum decisions. Meanwhile, President Trump canceled all executive orders signed by former President Joe Biden that used an autopen—a device that recreates signatures.
Following previous Introspective reports on settlements with Cornell University, Brown University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and the University of Virginia, Northwestern University reached a $75 million settlement with the Trump administration to restore frozen funding.
At the same time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will impose new vaccine guidelines after a memo claimed that 10 children died from the COVID-19 vaccine.
Immigration and Biden
As anti-immigrant sentiment escalates, the Trump administration will investigate green cards issued to immigrants from “countries of concern,” including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Venezuela.
This comes as Trump said he would suspend all immigration from developing countries to the United States.
“Even as we have progressed technologically, immigration policy has eroded those gains and living conditions for many,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.”
The administration later directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause all asylum decisions after the suspect in the National Guard shooting was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal—a 29-year-old from Afghanistan who entered the United States in 2021 and was granted asylum in April.
“Do not enter any decision information for affirmative cases,” read a USCIS notice obtained by The Introspective.
In a press release following the shooting, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the agency will ensure that “every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”
“This includes an assessment of where they are coming from and why. Yesterday’s horrific events make it abundantly clear the Biden administration spent the last four years dismantling basic vetting and screening standards, prioritizing the rapid resettlement of aliens from high-risk countries over the safety of American citizens,” Edlow said, blaming the former Biden administration for allowing Lakanwal to enter the country.
“The Trump administration takes the opposite approach. Effective immediately, I am issuing new policy guidance that authorizes USCIS officers to consider country-specific factors as significant negative factors when reviewing immigration requests. American lives come first.”
Meanwhile, Trump claimed that he would cancel all executive orders signed by former President Joe Biden that used an autopen.
“Any document signed by Sleepy Joe Biden with the autopen, which was approximately 92% of them, is hereby terminated, and of no further force or effect,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“The autopen is not allowed to be used if approval is not specifically given by the president of the United States.”
This comes as House Republicans released a report last month criticizing Biden’s use of the autopen, despite Trump in March acknowledging that he himself used an autopen for “very unimportant papers.”
“The cost of the scheme to hide the fallout of President Biden’s diminished physical and mental acuity was great but will likely never be fully calculated,” the House report read.
“The cover-up put American national security at risk and the nation’s trust in its leaders in jeopardy.”
House Republicans Report
Biden previously dismissed Trump’s claims as “nothing more than distraction.”
“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false,” he said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in 2005 under President George W. Bush that the president is allowed to use an autopen to sign legislation.
“The President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill he approves and decides to sign in order for the bill to become law,” read a memo.
“Rather, the President may sign a bill within the meaning of Article I, Section 7 by directing a subordinate to affix the President’s signature to such a bill, for example by autopen.”
DOJ 2005 Memo
Northwestern and FDA
Northwestern University reached a $75 million settlement with the Trump administration to restore frozen funding for the institution over allegations of antisemitism and backlash to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
“As an imperative to the negotiation of this agreement, we had several hard red lines we refused to cross: We would not relinquish any control over whom we hire, whom we admit as students, what our faculty teach or how our faculty teach,” wrote Northwestern Interim President Henry Bienen in a press release.
“I would not have signed this agreement without provisions ensuring that is the case,” he continued.
“Northwestern runs Northwestern. Period.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the deal “a huge win” in a statement.
“The deal cements policy changes that will protect students and other members of the campus from harassment and discrimination, and it recommits the school to merit-based hiring and admissions,” she said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the settlement marks another “victory” to “ensure that American educational institutions protect Jewish students.”
“Institutions that accept federal funds are obligated to follow civil rights law — we are grateful to Northwestern for negotiating this historic deal,” she said.
At the same time, the FDA said it will impose new vaccine guidelines after a memo claimed that 10 children died from the COVID-19 vaccine.
“This is a profound revelation,” wrote FDA Vaccine Director Dr. Vinay Prasad in The New York Times.
“For the first time, the U.S. F.D.A. will acknowledge that Covid-19 vaccines have killed American children.”
This comes after a previous report from The Introspective detailing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommending the vaccine for people 6 months and older, instead advising only those 65 and older and those with health risks to get the vaccine.
The Introspective 
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