WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping escalation of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, the U.S. State Department confirmed Wednesday that it will indefinitely suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries. The move, set to take effect on January 21, 2026, represents one of the most significant restrictions on legal immigration in modern U.S. history.+1
The “Public Charge” Crackdown
The State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, characterized the freeze as a measure to protect American taxpayers. In a statement released on social media, the department noted that the pause targets nations whose migrants are deemed to rely on public assistance at “unacceptable rates.”
“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,” a department spokesperson stated. The policy utilizes the “public charge” rule, allowing consular officers to deny visas to applicants they believe are likely to depend on government benefits for basic needs.+1
Scope of the Suspension
The list of 75 affected countries spans the globe, including strategic rivals, major emerging economies, and conflict zones. According to internal memos and reports, the list includes:
- Strategic Adversaries: Russia and Iran.
- Conflict Zones: Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen.
- Economic Partners: Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand.
- Regional Hubs: Egypt, Iraq, and Haiti.
While the administration has not officially published the full list of 75 nations, leaked documents indicate it covers nearly half of all countries that send legal immigrants to the United States. Experts at the Cato Institute estimate the policy could block approximately 315,000 legal immigrants over the next year alone.
What Is Not Affected
The State Department clarified that the suspension applies specifically to immigrant visas—those seeking permanent residency or “Green Cards.” It does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as:
- Tourism (B-2) and Business (B-1) travel.
- Student Visas (F-1) for academic exchange.
- Specialized Worker Visas (H-1B), though these remain under heightened scrutiny for separate vetting procedures.
Government officials emphasized that travelers planning to attend major upcoming events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, are unlikely to be impacted by this specific freeze, as they typically apply for temporary visitor status.
Geopolitical and Legal Fallout
The directive instructs U.S. embassies and consulates to refuse visas under existing law while the State Department reassesses its screening and vetting procedures. No timeline has been provided for when the “reassessment” might conclude, leading critics to label the move a de facto permanent ban for affected populations.
Civil rights groups and immigration advocates have condemned the move, arguing it disproportionately targets countries with predominantly Black and Brown populations. “This is effectively an immigration ban on a very significant portion of the world,” said Elora Mukherjee, director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic.
The announcement follows a year of record enforcement, with the State Department reporting the revocation of over 100,000 visas in 2025 and the Homeland Security Department reporting over 605,000 deportations during the same period.
President-Trump-Flickr-Picture-by-The-Trump-White-House
