U.S. Suspends Visas for 75 Countries Amid Immigration Crackdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. State Department will suspend visa processing for citizens of 75 countries starting January 21, 2026, amid heightened immigration controls under the Trump administration. Countries affected include Russia, Iran, Brazil, Somalia, Nigeria, and more, with no clear end date for the suspension. The move follows new vetting procedures and aims to tighten national security and limit potential public benefit reliance by immigrants.
Quick Look:
- Effective Date: January 21, 2026
- Affected Countries: 75 total (incl. Russia, Iran, Brazil, Somalia, Nigeria, Iraq, Egypt)
- Policy Status: Indefinite suspension pending review
- Reason: Reassessment of visa vetting, national security
- Key Officials: President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Backlash Expected: Immigration advocates, foreign governments
U.S. Suspends Visa Processing for 75 Countries Amid Immigration Crackdown
Deep Look
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2026 (AP) — The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday it will suspend all visa processing for citizens from 75 countries, a sweeping move aligned with President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown. The suspension is set to begin January 21 and remains in effect indefinitely while the department reassesses its vetting procedures.
According to officials familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by multiple outlets, the directive orders U.S. embassies and consular posts to refuse visa applications under existing legal authority. No end date for the suspension has been provided.
The list of affected countries reportedly includes:
The full list of countries comprises of:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the 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 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.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the suspension but declined to elaborate on operational details, saying only that it is part of an ongoing “security-based review” of visa issuance protocols.
This follows previous guidance circulated in November 2025, instructing consular staff to increase applicant scrutiny—particularly regarding individuals who might rely on U.S. public benefits or present national security risks. Under that policy, officers were instructed to deny visas if there were concerns about financial dependency on U.S. welfare programs.
In addition to the current suspension, further immigration restrictions are reportedly under consideration. These include a requirement for tourist visa applicants to grant U.S. border officials access to social media history from the past five years.
The move is the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s campaign to impose tighter immigration controls, especially from countries the administration has labeled “high-risk” or “uncooperative” on security vetting.
Back in November, President Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration from so-called “Third World countries“ following a deadly shooting near the White House involving an Afghan national. That incident, which resulted in the death of a National Guard member, triggered renewed pressure on the administration to take swift action on border and visa security.
In May 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also outlined plans to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party or those studying in sensitive research areas tied to national security.
While the administration defends the move as necessary for national defense and public safety, critics — including immigration rights groups, civil liberties advocates, and foreign governments — are expected to push back against what they describe as a discriminatory and overbroad policy.
No formal list of the 75 affected nations has been published, but the move is already sparking confusion and concern among visa applicants and U.S.-based sponsors. Embassies have been instructed not to provide individualized explanations at this time.
The visa suspension comes as the Trump administration continues to expand its immigration agenda heading into the fall elections, with many officials describing the overhaul as a pillar of Trump’s second-term strategy.
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