Washington, D.C., January 15, 2026 — In a sweeping escalation of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration announced Wednesday an indefinite pause on processing immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, citing concerns that migrants from these nations are overly reliant on U.S. public benefits and could "extract wealth from the American people." The policy, set to take effect on January 21, targets family-sponsored, employment-based, and other permanent residency visas but spares temporary categories like tourist or student visas.
The State Department framed the suspension as a necessary step to overhaul immigration procedures and prevent "abuse" of the system. "Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits," the department stated in an official post on X. Officials pointed to data showing high rates of welfare usage among immigrants from the listed countries, including programs like Medicaid, SNAP food assistance, and school lunches, which they argue burdens taxpayers and strains resources.
This move builds on a November 2025 executive order expanding the "public charge" rule, which bars immigrants deemed likely to become dependent on government aid. The administration has warned that unchecked migration—particularly refugees—creates "security concerns" and hinders integration, echoing campaign promises to prioritize American workers and fiscal responsibility.
### Affected Countries Span Continents
The 75 nations, drawn from U.S. allies and adversaries alike, include major sources of migration and popular tourist destinations. While applications from these countries can still be submitted, none will be approved or issued during the freeze. Dual nationals may qualify using passports from unaffected countries.
Here's a breakdown by region:
| Region | Countries |
The Americas | Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay |
Europe | Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia |
Asia-Pacific| Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Yemen |
Africa | Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda |
Notable inclusions like Brazil, Nigeria, and Russia highlight the policy's broad scope, potentially disrupting family reunifications and multinational business transfers.
### Duration and Broader Implications
No end date has been specified; the pause will lift only after the State Department verifies that immigrants from these countries pose no undue financial risk. This indefinite timeline has drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups, who predict legal battles similar to those that challenged Trump's 2017 travel ban. The Cato Institute labeled it a "new ban [that] hits half of legal immigrants, even citizens' spouses and kids," warning of humanitarian fallout for separated families.
Immigration experts anticipate ripple effects on the U.S. economy, from labor shortages in sectors reliant on foreign workers to strained diplomatic ties. As the policy rolls out just days after Inauguration Day, it signals the administration's aggressive stance on border security and self-sufficiency, amid ongoing debates over America's role as a global haven.
The State Department emphasized exceptions for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and urgent humanitarian cases, but details remain sparse. With court challenges looming, the freeze could reshape migration patterns for years to come.
This report draws on announcements from the U.S. State Department and analyses from CNBC, and Politico.
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