Washington , 15 January (H.S.): The U.S. State Department announced on Wednesday a sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia, effective January 21, as part of President Donald Trump's intensified campaign against immigrants deemed likely to burden American public resources.

Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio's directive, consular officers have been instructed to halt applications from these nations pending a comprehensive reassessment of protocols to enforce the public charge rule more rigorously, a policy expanded from November guidance that scrutinizes applicants' age, health, finances, education, skills, family status, English proficiency, and prior welfare use.

This measure spares non-immigrant visas for tourism, business, or events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, which the U.S. will host or co-host, though demand surges are anticipated.

Public Charge Rule Expansion

The public charge inadmissibility ground, enshrined in federal law, bars permanent residency for those likely to depend on government aid post-admission; Trump's first term broadened disqualifying benefits, and the latest cable mandates exhaustive vetting, including mandatory English interviews and medical screenings for communicable diseases, substance abuse, mental health issues, or violence history.

Officials framed the pause as ending abuse of America's immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people, targeting nations with purportedly high welfare utilization rates among migrants, though exact metrics remain undisclosed.

Critics, including immigration experts, warn it will drastically curtail legal migration pathways amid overlapping travel bans on nearly 40 countries.

Affected Countries and Broader Context

While a full public list awaits release, confirmed inclusions span Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo (both republics), Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

This aligns with Trump's post-inauguration enforcement surge, including Minnesota raids and tariffs, building on prior restrictions while navigating exemptions for essential travel.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar