In a sweeping expansion of U.S. immigration restrictions, the Trump administration has ordered an indefinite suspension of visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, effectively freezing legal immigration from vast swathes of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. The order, confirmed by State Department officials and set to take effect on January 21, 2026, cites “persistent vetting deficiencies” and a renewed enforcement of “public charge” rules designed to prevent the entry of individuals deemed likely to rely on U.S. welfare.
The suspension, detailed in an internal State Department memo, instructs consular officers to halt the adjudication of most visa categories for the listed nations. While previous bans focused primarily on “security threats,” this new list includes major U.S. allies and economic partners such as Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, and Colombia, signaling a dramatic shift toward a “merit-based” exclusion strategy that targets countries based on economic metrics and visa overstay rates alongside traditional security concerns.
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures,” a spokesperson stated. “This administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system.”
The inclusion of Russia and Iran aligns with ongoing geopolitical tensions, but the addition of Caribbean nations (like Jamaica and the Bahamas) and Eastern European states (like Bosnia and Albania) has caught diplomatic observers by surprise. For the millions of people in these countries currently in the visa pipeline, the door to the United States has effectively been slammed shut.
Full List of Affected Countries (Categorized)
Middle East & North Africa
* Algeria
* Egypt
* Iran
* Iraq
* Jordan
* Kuwait
* Lebanon
* Libya
* Morocco
* Syria
* Tunisia
* Yemen
Americas & Caribbean
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Brazil
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Dominica
* Grenada
* Guatemala
* Haiti
* Jamaica
* Nicaragua
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Uruguay
Europe & Eurasia
* Albania
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Georgia
* Kazakhstan
* Kosovo
* Kyrgyzstan
* Macedonia (North Macedonia)
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* Russia
* Uzbekistan
Asia
* Afghanistan
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Burma (Myanmar)
* Cambodia
* Fiji
* Laos
* Mongolia
* Nepal
* Pakistan
* Thailand
Sub-Saharan Africa
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde
* Côte d’Ivoire
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Eritrea
* Ethiopia
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Liberia
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* Senegal
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Uganda
Footage Charlie Kirk has been shot
Charlie Kirk has been shot
