The Trump administration has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, further tightening legal pathways into the United States. In a statement on Wednesday, the State Department said the move is aimed at bringing "an end to the abuse" of the immigration system by individuals "who would extract wealth from the American people" through the use of welfare and public benefits. President Donald Trump has sought to curb both illegal and legal migration since returning to office. His administration has already halted immigrant visa processing for applicants from Brazil, Iran, Russia and Somalia.
The new order is set to take effect on 21 January, although officials have not yet released a complete list of the 75 affected countries.
"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 US State Department.
Pigott added that the department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will pause visa processing while it reviews its procedures "to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits".
According to the Associated Press, consular officers have been instructed to stop processing immigrant visa applications from the affected countries. The suspension, however, will not apply to non-immigrant visas, including temporary tourist and business travel.
In recent months, the State Department has expanded restrictions on migration from countries the administration has described as national security risks, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, and several African nations.
Following charges against an immigrant from Afghanistan in November over 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 include five additional countries and individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents.
Asylum cases, citizenship processing, and green card applications for immigrants from the initial 19 countries covered by the ban have also been placed on hold.
