The United States government has announced a broad suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, signaling a major effort to tighten control over legal entry into the country.
The move is part of the administration’s ongoing campaign to reduce reliance on public aid by new arrivals and strengthen immigration screening.
The State Department said the freeze is aimed at ending what it described as misuse of the immigration system, particularly by people who seek government support shortly after entering the country. The department noted that the action is intended to safeguard American resources and prevent exploitation of public benefits.
The restriction will begin on 21 January, though officials have not yet published the full list of the countries affected. This expands prior visa suspensions that already applied to nationals from Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
President Donald Trump has emphasized both illegal and legal immigration as areas for stricter control since returning to office. His administration has repeatedly argued that current legal immigration channels are being abused by those who rely on welfare after entering the US.
"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 explained that the department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is pausing visa processing while reviewing internal procedures. "This will prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits," he added.
The Associated Press reports that consular officers have been instructed to stop handling immigrant visa applications from the targeted countries. The pause does not extend to non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourism, temporary work, or business purposes.
The action follows earlier policies that restricted migration from countries the administration considers a security risk, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, and several African nations. The measures gained urgency after an Afghan immigrant was charged in November in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC.
Following that incident, the administration banned or limited entry for nationals of 19 countries. In December, the travel restrictions were expanded to include five more countries, as well as people traveling with documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
The policy also affects other immigration processes. Asylum applications, green card requests, and citizenship applications for immigrants from the initial 19 countries have been placed on hold, reflecting a broader freeze across multiple immigration pathways.
