Trump Administration Announces Temporary Suspension of Visa Processing for 75 Countries

BY MIRABEL ODETA

The Trump administration has announced that it will temporarily suspend visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department confirmed on Wednesday. While specific details about the implementation were not immediately provided, the suspension was initially reported by Fox News, which cited an internal State Department memo outlining the directive. According to the report, the pause in visa issuance is set to begin on January 21.

Among the countries affected by the temporary suspension are Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand, highlighting the broad scope of the policy. The memo reportedly instructs U.S. embassies to deny visa applications under existing law while the department undertakes a review of its procedures. However, the memo did not indicate how long the pause will last or when visa processing might resume.

This action comes in the context of the administration’s larger immigration policies, which have included stringent measures aimed at limiting migration from certain nations. Since taking office last January, President Donald Trump has pursued a series of initiatives intended to tighten U.S. borders and overhaul immigration procedures.

In November, following a shooting near the White House carried out by an Afghan national that resulted in the death of a National Guard member, Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration from what he referred to as all “Third World Countries,” signaling a hardline approach to immigration enforcement.

The decision to temporarily suspend visas for such a large number of countries is likely to affect thousands of individuals seeking travel, work, and study opportunities in the United States. It also underscores the administration’s ongoing effort to review and reshape visa policies in line with its national security and immigration priorities.

While officials have not clarified the duration of the pause or the criteria for resuming visa processing, the move reflects a continuation of the administration’s broad strategy to scrutinize and restrict entry from nations deemed to pose higher risks.