Trump freezes immigrant visas for 75 countries in latest crackdown
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
The US government says it will freeze immigrant visa processing for 75 countries from next week.
The Trump administration confirmed that immigrant visas will be suspended for applicants from nations including Fiji, Thailand, Brazil, Afghanistan, Iran and Russia after January 21.
A State Department memo reportedly instructs consular officers to refuse the visas while the department revises its vetting procedures under Washington's strict immigration crackdown.
READ MORE: US shifts personnel out of bases in Middle East in signal military strike on Iran could be coming
READ MORE: The last Russia-US nuclear treaty is about to end. What lies ahead?
The pause is expected to continue indefinitely until the department reverses the decision.
"Under President Trump, we will not allow foreign nationals to abuse America's immigration system and exploit the generosity of the American people," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement on X.
The Department of State, which is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said the freeze would remain active until the US could ensure "new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people".https://x.com/StateDept/status/2011478657680757214
"The pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival.
"We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused."
The changes will not impact non-immigrant visas, tourist or business visas for applicants from the list of countries.
There is expected to be a surge in non-immigrant visa applications for the US ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico.
READ MORE: At least 32 killed, dozens injured after crane collapses onto train in Thailand
READ MORE: Arrest warrant issued over Queensland support worker's death
There will also be increased demand ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
President Donald Trump has issued several restrictive border security orders over the past year in his escalating campaign of immigration enforcement.
The State Department earlier this week said it has revoked over 100,000 visas, including some 8000 student visas and 2000 specialised visas, for "individuals who had encounters with US law enforcement for criminal activity".
Trump signed a proclamation in June which bans citizens from 12 mainly African and Middle Eastern countries from entering the US.
There is also now more careful vetting of tourists visiting the US on Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waivers.
Travellers hoping to visit for 90 days or less on an ESTA could be asked to provide five years of social media history or face being blocked from entering.
The full list of 75 countries where Trump is suspending visa processing:
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Myanmar
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Georgia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- North Macedonia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Republic of the Congo
- Russia
- Rwanda
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
