The Trump administration is placing an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing from 75 countries, further restricting the legal routes for entering the US.
The State Department on Wednesday stated that the administration aims to end abuses of the immigration system by individuals who might exploit welfare and public benefits.
President Donald Trump has made limiting both illegal and legal immigration a priority since returning to office, with previous actions already halting visa processing for individuals from Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia.
The order, which is set to take effect on January 21, has yet to release a full list of the affected countries.
According to Principal Deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, Tommy Pigott, The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people.
The department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will pause visa processing while it reassesses procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.
Reportedly, consular officers have been instructed to halt immigrant visa applications from these countries. However, this suspension will not affect non-immigrant, temporary tourist, or business visas.
In recent months, the State Department has increased restrictions on immigration from countries deemed potential threats to national security, including Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan among others.
Following an incident involving an Afghan immigrant charged with shooting two National Guard members in Washington, DC, the administration has previously banned or limited entries from 19 countries. Further restrictions were added in December, encompassing additional countries and those traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents.
Asylum cases, citizenship processing, and green card applications for immigrants from these initially banned countries have also been put on hold.
