The Trump administration implemented one of its most expansive efforts to restrict legal pathways to the United States by indefinitely suspending immigrant visa processing for individuals from 75 countries. This freeze, which took effect on January 21, specifically targeted applicants whom officials deemed likely to become a “public charge,” defined as individuals who may rely on government benefits for basic needs.

A state department cable obtained by the Guardian on a Wednesday revealed the sweeping nature of this policy, encompassing nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. The extensive list included war-torn countries, longstanding US allies, and nations with deep historical migration ties to America. Exceptions to the freeze were outlined for dual nationals holding a valid passport from a country not on the list, or for applicants who could demonstrate that their travel would serve an “America First” national interest. For visas that had already been approved but not yet printed, consular officers were instructed to refuse the case.

The administration justified this measure by stating its intent to “pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.” A social media statement from the state department further clarified that the “freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” emphasizing a commitment to ensuring “the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused.”

This visa freeze marked an intensification of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, which reached record levels during his administration. This period also saw nationwide protests over the killing of Renee Good drawing attention to law enforcement practices. The state department reported revoking over 100,000 visas during his administration, while the homeland security department indicated that more than 605,000 people had been deported and an additional 2.5 million left the country voluntarily. The administration showed a particular focus on Somali Americans, especially following fraud allegations and federal investigations in Minnesota, with former President Trump referring to Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar as “garbage” and expressing a desire for Somalis to “go back to where they came from.”

The pause in immigrant visa processing followed other significant immigration policy changes, including Trump’s December expansion of travel bans to 39 countries, the suspension of asylum processing, and the halting of citizenship and green card applications for citizens of countries already subject to restrictions.

However, claims made by the administration regarding immigrant welfare use have been contradicted by research. In February 2025, the libertarian Cato Institute published a paper demonstrating that native-born Americans consumed, on an average per capita basis, more welfare and entitlement benefits than all immigrants. Specifically, the study found that immigrants consumed 21% fewer welfare and entitlement benefits than native-born Americans on a per capita basis in 2022.

Migration policy experts have also voiced concerns about the far-reaching consequences of this policy, extending beyond those directly affected by visa denials. Julia Gelatt, associate director of the US immigration policy program at the Migration Policy Institute, noted in an analysis that “The likely result will be that many immigrant families will be afraid to access any public benefits for which a household member is eligible, forgoing supports in times of need to preserve future immigration prospects.” This contrasts with Trump's own statement during a State of the Union address in his first term, where he held the position that he supports legal immigration because immigrants “enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways,” adding that he wanted people to enter the US “in the largest numbers ever, but they have to come in legally.”