List includes war-torn nations, allies and countries with long-standing immigration ties to US – key US politics stories from 14 January 2026
The Trump administration has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries, marking one of its most expansive efforts yet to restrict legal pathways to the United States.
The freeze, which takes effect on 21 January, targets applicants officials deem likely to become a “public charge” – whom they describe as people who may rely on government benefits for basic needs.
The state department wrote on social media that it “will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”.
The list includes war-torn nations, US allies and countries with long-standing immigration ties to the US (you can view the full list here).
Research contradicts administration claims about immigrant welfare use. In February last year, the libertarian Cato Institute published a paper showing that native-born Americans consumed, on an average per capita basis, more welfare and entitlement benefits than all immigrants. The study found that immigrants consumed 21% fewer welfare and entitlement benefits than native-born Americans on a per capita basis in 2022.
