The US suspends the issuance of immigration visas to citizens of 75 countries

The US Department of State announced that from January 21 it will suspend the issuance and processing of immigrant visa applications from citizens of 75 countries. He justified his decision with the desire to prevent newcomers from using benefits excessively. The countries covered by the ban include: Belarus, Russia or Brazil.

“The Department of State will suspend immigration visa processing for 75 countries whose migrants receive benefits from the American people to an unacceptable degree. The freeze will remain in effect until the United States ensures that new immigrants will not benefit materially from the American people,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a post on the X platform.

“We are working to ensure that the generosity of the American people is no longer abused. The Trump Administration will always put America first,” a follow-up post added.

No details of the decision were provided, but the announcement shows that it does not apply to non-immigrant visas, including: tourist, student or business. According to Fox News, the list of countries affected by the decision mainly includes countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, such as: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Cambodia, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria and Thailand. There are also European countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova and Russia.

This is yet another step taken by the Trump administration to significantly limit legal immigration to the United States; it is the implementation of the president's announcement to limit the use of social benefits by foreigners. In recent weeks, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that most immigrants receive benefits. The White House has previously completely banned entry to citizens from 20 countries and territories and has placed partial bans on 19 additional countries.

Back in November, the Department of State ordered diplomatic missions around the world to increase screening of visa applicants for the risk of receiving benefits.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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