Trump administration halts immigrant visa processing from 75 international locations

[ad_1] The Donald Trump administration has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for folks from 75 international locations, marking certainly one of its most expansive efforts but to limit authorized pathways to america.

The freeze, which takes impact on 21 January, targets candidates officers deem more likely to turn into a “public cost” – who they describe as individuals who might depend on authorities advantages for primary wants.

The state division wrote on social media that it “will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 international locations whose migrants take welfare from the American folks at unacceptable charges”.

The Guardian obtained a state division cable with the complete checklist of nations affected.

List of 75 countries “The freeze will stay lively till the US can make sure that new immigrants is not going to extract wealth from the American folks,” the assertion continued. “We're working to make sure the generosity of the American folks will not be abused.”

The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has intensified to file ranges, whilst nationwide protests over the killing of Renee Good have drawn consideration to regulation enforcement practices. The state division says it revoked greater than 100,000 visas since Trump returned to workplace, whereas the homeland safety division reported last month that greater than 605,000 folks have been deported, whereas an extra 2.5 million left the nation on their very own.

The administration has notably targeted on Somali Individuals following fraud allegations and federal investigations in Minnesota. Trump referred to the Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar as “rubbish” throughout a cabinet meeting last month and mentioned he didn't need Somalis within the US and they need to “return to the place they got here from”.

The pause follows Trump’s December enlargement of journey bans to 39 international locations, suspension of asylum processing, and halting of citizenship and inexperienced card functions for residents of nations already topic to restrictions.

Analysis contradicts administration claims about immigrant welfare use. In February 2025, the libertarian Cato Institute published a paper displaying that native-born Individuals consumed, on a median per capita foundation, extra welfare and entitlement advantages than all immigrants. The research discovered immigrants consumed 21% fewer welfare and entitlement advantages than native-born Individuals on a per capita foundation in 2022.

Migration coverage specialists additionally warned the transfer may have far-reaching penalties past these immediately affected by visa denials.

“The possible end result will likely be that many immigrant households will likely be afraid to entry any public advantages for which a family member is eligible, forgoing helps in instances of must protect future immigration prospects,” Julia Gelatt, affiliate director of the US immigration coverage program on the Migration Coverage Institute, wrote in an analysis posted on Wednesday.

Throughout a State of the Union address throughout his first time period, Trump held the place that he helps authorized immigration as a result of immigrants “enrich our nation and strengthen our society in numerous methods”. He went on to say in the identical speech that he wished folks to enter the US “within the largest numbers ever, however they've to return in legally”.