Unprecedented Suspension Targets Permanent Residency Seekers
The United States has announced a freeze on all visa procedures for individuals seeking permanent residency from 75 countries, marking the most aggressive immigration restriction since Donald Trump’s return to power. The suspension, effective January 21, has no specified end date according to anonymous officials.
“Ending Abuse of the System”
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott declared the move targets those “seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of the American people.” In an email statement, Pigott confirmed immigrant visa processing from affected nations would halt while procedures undergo reevaluation to prevent entry of foreign nationals who might access public benefits.
The White House reinforced this message through spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who shared a Fox News article on social media platform X detailing the policy. While the complete country list remains unpublished, confirmed affected nations include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen.
Record Revocations and Expulsions
This freeze follows unprecedented immigration enforcement actions. The State Department revealed Monday it had revoked over 100,000 visas since Trump’s return—a one-year record. Last month, Homeland Security reported the administration expelled more than 605,000 individuals, with an additional 2.5 million departing voluntarily.
President Trump has consistently advocated for reducing non-European immigration, recently describing Somalis as “garbage” who should “go back where they came from,” while expressing openness to Scandinavian immigration.
Tourism and Business Visas Unaffected
The suspension specifically targets immigrant visas for permanent residency, leaving tourist and business visas—including those for next summer’s FIFA World Cup—unaffected. However, the administration maintains its commitment to screening all applicants’ social media histories.
This policy represents the latest escalation in an immigration overhaul that has already transformed US border enforcement and visa adjudication processes.
