At a Glance
- The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing for 75 countries starting January 21.
- Officials claim immigrants from these nations “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.”
- The freeze covers people seeking to live permanently in the U.S., not tourists or temporary workers.
- Why it matters: The move could block tens of thousands of green-card applicants and signals a major expansion of the administration’s immigration crackdown.
The Trump administration is suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 countries while it rewrites rules meant to keep out people who might use public benefits, the State Department announced Wednesday.
The freeze, effective January 21, applies only to immigrant visas-those for foreigners hoping to settle permanently-not to short-term visitor, student, or work visas, including World Cup-related travel.
Countries on the List
A U.S. official confirmed the full roster ranges from large nations such as Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Thailand to smaller states like Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
| Region | Sample Countries Affected |
|---|---|
| Africa | Egypt, Somalia, Ghana, South Sudan |
| Asia | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nepal |
| Europe | Belarus, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia |
| Americas | Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica |
| Middle East | Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen |
State Department Justification
Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the pause will remain “until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”
> “The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” Pigott said.
He added that the State Department will use its “long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge.”
Welfare Use Debate
Most green-card holders already face a five-year waiting period before they can access food stamps, non-emergency Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Temporary visitors, including H-1B specialty workers, are generally ineligible for almost all public benefits.
Critics note that the administration has offered no new data showing higher-than-average benefit use by people from the affected countries.
Escalating Immigration Crackdown
Wednesday’s order builds on earlier moves:
- In December, the administration stopped processing immigration applications from nationals of 19 countries.
- On Tuesday, it revoked temporary protected status for Somalis already living in the U.S.
The new suspension is expected to delay tens of thousands of family, employment, and diversity-lottery green-card cases.
Fox News first reported the plan, citing an internal State Department memo.
What Happens Next
Consular posts worldwide must halt immigrant visa interviews and issuances for nationals of the listed countries beginning January 21. Officials did not say how long the reassessment will take or what new standards applicants will have to meet once processing resumes.
Applicants already scheduled for interviews are being told to expect cancellations, according to guidance sent to embassies and obtained by News Of Philadelphia.
Key Takeaways
- The freeze targets immigrant visas only; tourist, student, and most work visas are unaffected.
- 75 countries are named, from every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
- The administration cites preventing “public charge” use, though most immigrants already face strict benefit limits.
- The suspension could last indefinitely while the State Department writes new vetting procedures.
