Trump SLAMS Door on 75 Nations

Man in suit and red tie speaking outside.

President Trump’s State Department slams the door on immigrant visas from 75 high-welfare nations, shielding American taxpayers from exploitation just weeks into his second term.

Story Snapshot

State Department pauses immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries effective January 21, targeting those likely to burden public benefits under the public charge rule.
Action protects U.S. welfare system from abuse, linked to fraud cases like Minnesota Somali child care scams and Trump’s direct criticism of such immigration.
Exempts tourists, business travelers, and 2026 World Cup participants, focusing solely on permanent immigrant entries.
Builds on 2019 Trump expansions reversed by Biden, now reinstated to enforce America First priorities amid security threats.

Announcement Details

The U.S. State Department announced the visa processing pause on January 14, 2026, via social media posts and an internal memo. Principal deputy spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the indefinite halt starts January 21 at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. The directive reassesses vetting under the public charge rule, rooted in 19th-century law barring entry to those likely dependent on government aid. Countries like Somalia, Haiti, Iran, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Yemen top the leaked list due to high welfare use rates among their immigrants. This targets family-based immigrant visas only.

Trump’s Driving Force

President Donald Trump drives this policy as part of his America First agenda early in his second term. In December 2025, Trump labeled Somali immigrants “garbage” after a video surfaced alleging child care fraud in Minnesota, sparking a federal probe despite local denials. The administration terminated Temporary Protected Status for up to 2,400 Somalis on January 13. State Department statements echo taxpayer protection: “Ending abuse by those who would extract wealth from Americans.” Trump first expanded public charge considerations in 2019 to include income, health, age, and English proficiency—factors Biden scrapped in 2021 but Trump now reinstates.

Historical Precedents and Context

This pause revives Trump’s 2017-2021 travel bans on Muslim-majority nations and the 2019 public charge rule, which denied 10-20% more visas by broadening denial criteria. November 2025 events escalated action: an Afghan national’s D.C. shooting arrest prompted asylum pauses, green card reviews, and travel ban expansions to 39 countries. The policy coincides with 2026 World Cup hosting, exempting athletes while prioritizing legal immigration curbs alongside border enforcement. Executive authority stems from Immigration and Nationality Act Section 212(a)(4), wielded unilaterally by Trump, State, and DHS without congressional input.

Stakeholders align clearly. Trump leads as policy architect motivated to restrict welfare-dependent entries. State Department implements via consular officers, with DHS supporting through TPS ends. Affected nations and applicants face delays, family separations, and economic hits, while U.S. diaspora communities like Minnesota Somalis grapple with fraud stigma.

Impacts and Reactions

Short-term effects include backlogs for thousands of family immigrant visas, sparing tourists and World Cup visitors. Long-term, stricter rules could slash legal immigration 20-40% from listed nations, saving welfare costs but risking labor shortages in reliant sectors. Political wins bolster Trump’s base frustrated by Biden-era open policies that fueled inflation and overspending. Critics, including Minnesota officials, call it overreach based on disputed fraud claims, predicting lawsuits. Immigration analysts see escalation of 2019 standards, tying to post-shooting security panic. Proponents affirm it safeguards the safety net for hardworking Americans.