The United States Department of State has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, affecting over a third of the world's nations in one of the most sweeping immigration restrictions in recent American history. The freeze, which took effect on January 21, 2026, targets applicants the administration deems likely to become a public charge requiring government assistance.
The affected countries include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen, among dozens of others spanning multiple continents. Principal Deputy Spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that the Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America's immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people, signaling the administration's hardline stance on immigration policy.
The suspension applies exclusively to immigrant visas, which lead to lawful permanent residence and green cards, processed at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. Non-immigrant visas for tourists, students, temporary workers, and business travelers remain unaffected by the policy change. The State Department has confirmed that athletes and support personnel traveling for the 2026 World Cup will also be exempt from the restrictions.
Under the new policy, U.S. consular offices will continue to accept applications and schedule interviews for affected nationals, but no immigrant visas will be issued during the pause. Existing immigrant visas have not been revoked, and dual nationals applying with a valid passport from a country not on the restricted list remain exempt from the suspension.
The announcement follows the implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998, which imposed full or partial visa-issuance restrictions on 39 countries effective January 1, 2026. Somalia has received particular scrutiny from the administration following allegations of social services fraud in Minnesota, and the Trump administration ended Temporary Protected Status for Somalis earlier in March.
Immigration advocates and civil rights organizations have condemned the policy as discriminatory and overly broad. Critics argue that the public charge rationale unfairly targets developing nations and could separate families for indefinite periods. The State Department has not announced an end date for the suspension, stating only that it will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
The visa freeze represents a significant expansion of the administration's immigration enforcement efforts, which have included increased deportations, border security measures, and restrictions on asylum seekers. Legal challenges to the policy are expected as immigration lawyers assess the scope and potential constitutional implications of the sweeping restrictions affecting millions of potential applicants worldwide.