US Suspends Immigrant Visas for Citizens of 75 Countries

The US State Department announced on Wednesday that it is suspending the issuance of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries. The department claimed that immigrants from countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, and Somalia "use an unacceptable amount of welfare and social benefits from the American people."

According to NBC, the move signals a further tightening of the Trump administration's strict immigration policies, which have previously included deportations and the suspension or restriction of visa applications.

Deputy State Department Spokesperson, Tomi Pigott, said in a statement that visa issuance for these countries "is being paused while the State Department reviews its immigration processes to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who are likely to become public charges."

She added, "The Trump administration is ending the abuse of the US immigration system by those seeking to profit from the American people. The State Department is using its long-standing authority to deem ineligible applicants who are likely to become a public financial burden on the United States and abuse the generosity of the American people."

Most visa holders already face restrictions on receiving public benefits. For example, most green card holders are subject to a five-year waiting period for receiving food stamps, non-emergency Medicaid, and children's health insurance.

The suspension specifically includes immigrant visas for individuals intending to reside permanently in the United States, but does not include short-term visas for temporary work, study, or tourism, such as World Cup visas.

The State Department announced that the visa suspension will take effect on January 21 and will "remain in effect until the United States is assured that new immigrants will not profit from the American people."

A government official released the full list of countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Democratic Republic of 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 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.

The Trump administration has previously taken steps to restrict immigration from many of these countries. In December, the administration suspended immigration applications for citizens of 19 countries, including Iran. It also announced on Tuesday that Temporary Protected Status for Somalians residing in the United States would be terminated.