The administration of US President Donald Trump has launched one of its most sweeping immigration restrictions to date, announcing an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens from 75 countries worldwide.
An Expansive Freeze on Legal Pathways
The significant policy shift, which is scheduled to take effect on 21 January, targets prospective immigrants whom officials believe could become a "public charge." This term is used to describe individuals who may need to rely on government welfare benefits for basic necessities. In a social media statement, the US State Department declared it "will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates."
The department reinforced its position, stating, "The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people. We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused." The Guardian has obtained a confidential State Department cable containing the complete list of affected nations, which includes major countries such as Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
Context of a Broader Crackdown
This visa suspension represents a major escalation in the Trump administration's immigration agenda, which has intensified to record levels. The State Department reports it has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Trump's return to office. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security disclosed last month that over 605,000 people have been deported, with an additional 2.5 million leaving the country independently.
The move follows a series of other restrictive measures, including December's expansion of travel bans to 39 countries, the suspension of asylum processing, and a halt to citizenship and green card applications for citizens from nations already under restrictions. The administration has shown particular focus on Somali communities following fraud allegations and federal investigations in Minnesota.
Contradictory Evidence and Expert Warnings
However, the administration's justification for the policy is challenged by existing research. In February 2025, the libertarian Cato Institute published a study revealing that, on a per capita basis, native-born Americans actually consumed more welfare and entitlement benefits than immigrants. The research found immigrants used 21% fewer such benefits per person in 2022.
Migration policy experts have issued stark warnings about the policy's potential consequences. Julia Gelatt, associate director of the US Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, cautioned that the likely result will be widespread fear among immigrant families. "Many immigrant families will be afraid to access any public benefits for which a household member is eligible, forgoing supports in times of need to preserve future immigration prospects," she wrote in a recent analysis.
This hardline stance marks a contrast to rhetoric from Trump's first term, where during a State of the Union address he stated he supported legal immigration because immigrants "enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways," adding he wanted people to enter "in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally." The new visa freeze fundamentally reshapes what that legal pathway now entails for millions.
