US government suspends immigrant visa processing for 75 foreign nations temporarily

US State Department Announces Visa Freeze for 75 Countries

The United States has announced that it will suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries worldwide, effective January 21. The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restrict immigration.

According to the Department of State, the freeze will affect citizens of Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea, among others. The department stated that the decision was made due to concerns about the economic impact of certain countries’ migrants on American society.

The Trump administration has been implementing various measures to reduce immigration since its return to office in January 2025. These efforts include curbs on several US visa programs, reduced refugee admissions, and increased deportations.

In recent months, the Department of Homeland Security reported that over 605,000 people have been deported under the Trump administration, while another 2.5 million individuals left the country voluntarily. The State Department has also revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump’s return to office.

The list of countries affected by the visa freeze is not yet publicly available, but sources indicate that Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, Nigeria, Iraq, and Yemen are among those impacted. Non-immigrant visa applicants will continue to be processed without interruption.

Experts have weighed in on the impact of the move, with some stating that it will significantly restrict access to legal immigration for certain countries. The Cato Institute’s director of immigration studies noted that nearly half of all legal immigrants to the US may be barred from entering the country under this new policy.

Source: Al Jazeera