The State Department says the move targets applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, with the freeze set to begin 21 January.
The Trump administration has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries, in one of its broadest efforts to tighten legal immigration routes into the United States.
The policy, scheduled to take effect on 21 January, focuses on applicants the administration believes could become a “public charge” — a term officials use for individuals they say might depend on government assistance to cover basic living needs.
In a statement posted online, the State Department said it would pause immigrant visa processing for countries whose migrants are claimed to use welfare “at unacceptable rates,” arguing the US must ensure future immigrants will not place financial strain on public resources.
While the full list of affected countries has not been officially published, the report says the suspension includes nations such as Brazil, Iran, Russia, Somalia, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Haiti, Thailand, and Yemen, among others.
The move comes amid a wider immigration crackdown by the administration. The article notes the State Department said it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump returned to office, while the Department of Homeland Security reported over 605,000 deportations, with millions more leaving the country voluntarily.
The report also highlights heightened focus on Somali Americans, following fraud allegations and investigations in Minnesota. It mentions Trump’s harsh remarks directed at Representative Ilhan Omar during a cabinet meeting last month.
The visa freeze follows other recent steps, including expanded travel restrictions, a halt to asylum processing, and restrictions on citizenship and green card applications for people from countries already facing limitations.
Critics argue the justification is misleading. The Guardian cites research from the Cato Institute indicating that native-born Americans consume more welfare and entitlement benefits per person than immigrants, and that immigrants used fewer benefits per capita in 2022.
Migration experts warned the policy could also discourage immigrant families already in the US from accessing benefits they are legally eligible for, fearing it could harm future immigration chances.