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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that his administration had paused immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated that this suspension will be effective starting Jan. 21 as part of an anti-immigration crackdown.
As a result of this suspension, applicants from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen, Thailand, and Brazil will be impacted. According to the State Department, the decision targets applicants who may need government assistance while residing in the United States.
In an interview with Reuters, Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the State Department, said, “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.”
A Department statement noted in an Associated Press report declared, “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.”
Consistent with a broader advisory issued in November, the State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has ordered a halt to the acceptance of visa requests. In that advisory, embassy and consulate officials were instructed to extensively vet visa applicants to ensure they would not rely on public benefits. The AP stated that in the new directive, consular officials have been told to consider specific details of visa applicants, including their age, health, family status, finances, education, skills, and English proficiency.
