US suspends immigrant visas from 75 countries over public assistance concerns: NPR

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it will suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose citizens the Trump administration believes are likely to need public assistance while living in the United States.

The State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa applications from affected countries in accordance with a broader order issued in November that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become “public charges” in the United States.

The move builds on the administration’s previous immigration and travel bans on nearly 40 countries, and is part of President Trump’s ongoing efforts to tighten U.S. entry standards for foreigners.

The department said in a statement: “The Trump administration is putting an end to the abuse of the American immigration system by those who want to extract wealth from the American people.” “Processing of immigrant visas from these 75 countries will be temporarily halted while the Department of State reevaluates immigration processing procedures to deny entry to foreign nationals who may receive welfare and public benefits.”

The suspension, which will begin on January 21, will not apply to applicants seeking nonimmigrant visas, or temporary tourist or business visas, who make up the vast majority of visa applicants. Demand for nonimmigrant visas is expected to rise significantly in the coming months and years due to the 2026 World Cup and the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games, both of which the United States will host or co-host.

Telegraphic communications for screening nonimmigrant visa applicants

A separate notice sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates said nonimmigrant visa applicants should be screened for possible pursuit of public benefits in the United States.

“With the revelations of massive public benefit fraud across the United States, the Trump Administration is laser-focused on eliminating and preventing fraud in public benefit programs,” said the cable, which specifically referred to most nonimmigrant visa applications and was sent Monday.

The cable, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, urged consular officials to ensure that foreigners wishing to travel to the United States are “fully screened” to see if they can rely on public services before they are issued a visa.

The cable noted several times that it was up to the applicant to prove that they would not apply for public benefits while in the United States, and said that consular officials who suspected that the applicant might apply should ask them to fill out a form proving their financial bona fides.

The Trump administration has already imposed severe restrictions on immigrant and nonimmigrant visa procedures for citizens of dozens of countries, many in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Consular officials must consider a range of personal details

The November guidance on which Wednesday’s decision is based directed U.S. embassy and consular officials to conduct comprehensive and comprehensive screening of visa applicants to demonstrate that they will not need to rely on public benefits from the government at any time after their admission to the United States.

While federal law already requires those seeking permanent residency or legal status to prove they will not be a public official, Trump in his first term expanded benefits programs that could exclude applicants, and the guidelines in the cable appear to go even further.

Immigrants seeking entry into the United States undergo a medical examination by a physician approved by the U.S. Embassy. They are screened for infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, and asked to disclose any history of drug or alcohol abuse, mental health conditions or violence. They are also required to have a number of vaccinations.

The new directive expanded those to have more specific requirements. She said consular officials must take into account a range of specific details about people seeking visas, including their age, health, family status, finances, education, skills and any previous use of public assistance regardless of country. She also said that they should evaluate applicants’ English proficiency, and they can do this by conducting interviews in English.

Experts said at the time that this could increase restrictions on who can enter the country at a time when the Republican administration is already working to tighten those rules.

The countries affected by the suspension announced on Wednesday are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, 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.