The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries worldwide, a move confirmed by a U.S. State Department spokesperson and described as part of Washington’s intensified measures against immigration.
The suspension also includes Albania and will affect applicants from countries such as Somalia, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Thailand, and Brazil. According to the State Department, the measure will take effect on January 21.
The suspension does not apply to tourist visas, Reuters reported.
“The State Department will use its longstanding authority to deem potential immigrants inadmissible if they are likely to become a public burden on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” said Tommy Pigott, Deputy Principal Spokesperson at the State Department.
He added that immigrant visa processing from the 75 affected countries will remain halted while the department reassesses immigration procedures aimed at preventing the entry of foreign nationals who may rely on public assistance and social benefits.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has pursued a broad range of restrictive immigration policies. His administration has aggressively prioritized immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major U.S. cities and triggering violent confrontations involving both migrants and U.S. citizens.
Trump campaigned on a promise to halt illegal immigration, arguing that tougher measures were necessary after years of elevated unauthorized migration under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. His administration has also made legal immigration more difficult, including the introduction of higher and more expensive fees for H-1B visas for skilled workers.
“This administration has proven to have the most anti-legal immigration agenda in American history,” said David Bier, Director of Immigration Studies, in a statement.
“This action will block nearly half of all legal immigrants to the United States, turning away approximately 315,000 lawful immigrants in the next year alone,” Bier added.
The State Department has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump took office, officials said on Monday. The administration has also implemented stricter visa screening policies, including expanded social media checks and enhanced vetting procedures.
In November, Trump pledged to “permanently stop” migration from all “Third World countries” following an attack near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a member of the U.S. National Guard.
