The Trump administration has ordered an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, further narrowing legal pathways for entry into the United States.
In a statement on Wednesday, the US State Department said the move is intended to curb what it described as abuse of the immigration system by individuals who could become dependent on welfare and public benefits.
President Donald Trump has pushed to restrict both illegal and legal immigration since returning to office. His administration has already suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of Brazil, Iran, Russia and Somalia.
The new order is set to take effect on January 21, though the full list of the 75 affected countries has yet to be made public.
“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, the department’s principal deputy spokesperson.
Under the directive, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed the department to pause visa processing while it reassesses procedures aimed at preventing the entry of foreign nationals deemed likely to rely on public assistance, Pigott added.
According to the Associated Press, consular officers have been told to halt immigrant visa applications from the affected countries. The suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visas, including temporary tourist or business travel.
The move follows a broader tightening of US immigration policy in recent months, particularly toward countries the administration considers national security risks, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan and several African states.
After an Afghan immigrant was charged in November in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, the administration banned or restricted entry for nationals of 19 countries. In December, the travel ban was expanded to include five additional countries and individuals travelling on documents issued by the Palestinian Authority.
Asylum applications, citizenship processing and green card applications for immigrants from the original 19 countries have also been paused, according to officials.
