ALBAWABA- The U.S. State Department announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, effective January 21, marking a major escalation of U.S. immigration restrictions.
The affected list includes Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen, among others.
Officials said the freeze targets applicants assessed as potential “public charges” under existing law and is intended to allow a broad reassessment of vetting procedures at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
The move follows remarks by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who disclosed that more than 100,000 visas were revoked in 2025, a 150% increase from the previous year, including roughly 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized permits.
The revocations were attributed primarily to criminal encounters or visa overstays, with officials framing the crackdown as necessary for national security and law enforcement.
The visa freeze aligns with President Donald Trump’s wider immigration agenda, which prioritizes mass deportations, expanded travel bans, and tougher enforcement across both legal and illegal migration channels.
The Trump policy risks eroding civil liberties, threatening to denaturalize foreign-born citizens, restrict asylum access, and invoke emergency powers to bypass congressional oversight.
The administration has also broadened enforcement to target officials and advocates accused of obstructing immigration authorities, while committing $170 billion to raids and border security.
The measures could strain diplomatic relations, disrupt global travel and economic ties, and deepen humanitarian impacts, as the United States accelerates a shift toward a more restrictive and inward-looking immigration posture.
