Trump Administration Cites Welfare Abuse Concerns as Visa Freeze Spreads Across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas
The United States government has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of Nigeria and 74 other countries, marking another major immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump.
The decision, confirmed on Wednesday by the U.S. State Department, pauses the processing of immigrant visas while authorities review procedures aimed at preventing what the administration describes as abuse of America’s welfare and public benefits system.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the move is intended to protect U.S. taxpayers and strengthen immigration controls.
“The Trump administration is putting an end to the exploitation of America’s immigration system by individuals who seek to extract wealth from the American people,” Pigott said.
According to the State Department, immigrant visa applications from the affected countries will remain on hold during the reassessment period. Officials emphasized that the suspension is based on nationality, using legal authority traditionally applied on a case-by-case basis.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the policy shift in a post on X, noting that the list includes Somalia, Russia, Iran and several U.S. allies such as Brazil, Egypt and Thailand. She linked to a Fox News report outlining additional countries impacted by the decision.
The State Department has not independently published an official list, but multiple reports indicate the suspension spans regions across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and South America.
President Trump has repeatedly voiced opposition to immigration from certain regions, particularly non-European countries. In past remarks, he has used harsh language to describe immigrants from Somalia and has publicly stated a preference for immigration from Scandinavian nations.
The latest announcement follows an aggressive enforcement push since Trump’s return to office. The State Department disclosed earlier this week that more than 100,000 visas have been revoked within the past year — the highest annual figure on record. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security reported that over 605,000 people have been deported, with an additional 2.5 million leaving the U.S. voluntarily.
U.S. officials clarified that the suspension does not apply to non-immigrant visas, including tourist, business, and short-term travel visas. This means international visitors, including football fans planning to attend this year’s FIFA World Cup, will not be affected. However, the administration has reiterated plans to intensify screening of applicants’ social media activity.
Full List of Countries Affected by Immigrant Visa Suspension
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte 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.
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