In a sweeping move to tighten immigration controls, the Trump administration announced on January 14 the indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries.
The pause, set to take effect on January 21, targets permanent residency applications and aims to prevent what officials describe as the “abuse” of America’s welfare system by incoming migrants.
This development marks one of the broadest restrictions on legal immigration pathways under President Donald Trump’s second term, building on earlier measures like travel bans and reduced refugee caps.
The US State Department confirmed the policy shift in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) and official statements, stating that consular officers have been instructed to halt approvals and issuances of immigrant visas from the affected nations.
”The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates,” the department posted.
”The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”
The suspension does not impact non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourists, business travelers, students, or temporary workers.
Exceptions are made for dual nationals using passports from unaffected countries or applicants who can demonstrate that their entry serves an “America First” national interest.
Visas already approved but not yet printed must be refused, according to an internal State Department cable
This comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration, with the US preparing to co-host the FIFA World Cup in June 2026 alongside Canada and Mexico. While short-term visitors remain unaffected, the policy has sparked concerns about America’s openness to international events and global relations.
Reason for the suspension
The primary rationale cited by the administration is to enforce the “public charge” rule more stringently, a longstanding provision in US immigration law that bars entry to individuals likely to depend on government assistance for basic needs like food, housing, or healthcare.
Officials argue that migrants from the listed countries disproportionately become a financial burden on American taxpayers upon arrival.
”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,” the State Department stated.
The pause allows time to “reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
This move follows a November executive order that expanded checks on potential immigrants’ financial self-sufficiency.
Broader motivations include national security risks and economic protectionism, with the White House emphasizing that large-scale migration strains public resources, hinders integration, and poses vetting challenges from countries with unstable governments or high overstay rates.
Critics, however, view it as part of Trump’s “America First” agenda, which has prioritized reducing both legal and illegal immigration to protect US jobs and resources.
The policy aligns with campaign promises to curb what Trump has called “chain migration” and welfare dependency among newcomers.
List of Affected Countries
The 75 countries span Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, including war-torn nations like Afghanistan and Syria, as well as allies such as Brazil and Thailand. The full list, includes:
•Africa (27)
Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Yemen.
•Asia (22)
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan.
•Europe (8)
Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia.
•North America and Caribbean (14)
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
•South America (3)
Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay.
•Oceania (1)
Fiji.
This diverse group includes nations with significant migration ties to the US, such as Nigeria, which saw over 7,000 immigrant visas issued in 2024 alone.
Impact on Nigeria and Other Nations
For Nigeria, the suspension could delay at least 5,000 intending immigrants annually, based on recent US consulate data from Lagos and Abuja.
In 2024, Nigeria received 7,308 immigrant visas, part of a total 70,621 visas issued to Nigerians, including non-immigrants.
The policy compounds earlier restrictions, such as a December partial visa ban citing security challenges and high overstay rates, and a new $15,000 visa bond requirement for certain non-immigrant categories effective January 21, 2026.
Similar effects are anticipated in other countries. In Haiti and Somalia, already under travel bans, the pause exacerbates barriers for family reunifications and skilled workers.
Brazil and Russia, despite economic ties with the US, face disruptions in employment-based visas, potentially affecting businesses reliant on international talent.
Globally, immigrant visa issuances rose to 612,258 in 2024 from 562,976 in 2023, but experts predict a sharp decline under these measures.
This suspension is the latest in a series of aggressive policies. In June 2025, a full travel ban was imposed on 12 countries, expanded in November to include six more after a shooting incident involving an Afghan national.
Refugee admissions hit a historic low of 7,500 for fiscal year 2026, prioritizing white Afrikaners from South Africa amid controversial claims of “genocide.”
H-1B visa fees skyrocketed to $100,000 in September 2025 to protect US jobs.
Deportations reached record levels, with over 605,000 removals and 1.9 million “self-deportations” in 2025, leading to net negative immigration for the first time in 50 years, per Brookings Institution analysis.
Reactions
Nigerian officials and analysts have voiced strong opposition. Former Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode called it a “contradiction” to America’s globalization advocacy, urging diplomacy to remove Nigeria from the list.
Ex-Ambassador Godknows Igali highlighted Nigerians’ contributions as “skilled and hardworking,” not liabilities.
Analyst Charles Onunaiju warned of a “not normal time” in US politics, reflecting Trump’s anti-immigration stance.
Internationally, the policy has drawn criticism for straining alliances and human ties.
In the US, immigrant advocates decry it as discriminatory, while supporters praise it as safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
No end date has been set, leaving thousands in limbo as the administration reviews procedures.
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