WASHINGTON – In a significant policy shift, the State Department announced on Wednesday a halt to the processing of immigrant visas for nationals from 75 countries. This decision targets countries whose citizens are considered likely to require public assistance once in the United States.

Under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio, the State Department has directed consular officers to suspend immigrant visa applications from the designated countries. This move aligns with a broader directive issued in November aimed at tightening the rules surrounding potential immigrants who might become “public charges” in the U.S.

Set to take effect on January 21, the suspension does not extend to non-immigrant visas, meaning that applications for temporary tourist or business visas will continue unaffected.

The department’s statement emphasized the administration’s stance: “The Trump administration is ending the exploitation of America’s immigration system by those seeking to extract resources from the American people. We are pausing immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries while we reassess immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals likely to claim welfare and public benefits.”

Although the specifics of which countries are affected were not disclosed, the Trump administration has already imposed stringent visa restrictions on numerous countries, particularly within Africa.

According to an unnamed U.S. official, the list includes countries such as Russia, Iran, and Somalia, as well as Afghanistan, Brazil, and Egypt, among others. The official requested anonymity as the list has not yet been publicly released.