Somalia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand among nations affected by indefinite pause starting Jan. 21.
By Catholics for Catholics
The Trump administration said on Wednesday that it would halt the processing of immigrant visas for folks from 75 countries, escalating its attempts to restrain legal migration to the United States.
In a social media post, The State Department said that the campaign was geared toward discouraging immigration from countries “whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.”
According to Fox News, the countries include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen and more. The hiatus will start on Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of immigrant visa processing.
The full list of nations include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
U.S. freezes all visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, per State Dept memo (effective Jan 21, 2026). pic.twitter.com/q1RkthamH9
— Infina Alerts (@InfinaAlerts) January 14, 2026
Among the countries under scrutiny, Somalia has drawn heightened awareness from federal officials after a sweeping fraud scandal centered in Minnesota, where investigators discovered massive abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs. Many of those who took part in the scheme are Somali nationals or Somali-Americans.
In November 2025, a State Department cable sent to posts around the globe instructed consular officers to enforce sweeping new screening rules under the so-called “public charge” provision of immigration law.
The new guidance commands consular officers to reject visas to applicants considered likely to rely on public benefits, considering an extensive list of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.
Older or overweight applicants could be rejected, along with those who had any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalization.
Save and Share This Catholic Patriotic Minute!
