The Trump administration has announced an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for citizens from 75 countries, further restricting the legal pathways for entering the United States.
The State Department, on Wednesday, said the administration aims to “bring an end to the abuse” of the system “by those who would extract wealth from the American people” through reliance on welfare and public benefits.
Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has pursued policies to limit both illegal and legal immigration, and his administration has already halted immigrant visa processing for nationals from Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
The order is set to take effect on 21 January, although the full list of the 75 countries affected has not yet been released.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” said Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy spokesperson for the department.
Under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the department will pause visa processing while reassessing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would rely on welfare and public benefits, Pigott added.
According to the Associated Press, consular officers have been instructed to halt immigrant visa applications from the affected countries. The suspension, however, does not affect non-immigrant visas, including temporary tourist or business travel.
Background on Restrictions
In recent months, the State Department has tightened restrictions on migration from countries the Trump administration considers a threat to national security, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, and several African nations.
Following a November incident in which an Afghan immigrant was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, the administration banned or limited entry for nationals of 19 countries. In December, the travel ban was expanded to five additional countries and to travelers holding Palestinian Authority-issued documents.
As part of these measures, asylum cases, citizenship processing, and green card applications for immigrants from the original 19 countries were also paused.
This move represents the latest step in the administration’s ongoing efforts to tighten both legal and illegal immigration into the United States.
