US Halts Immigrant Visa Processing for Nigeria and 74 Other Countries in Sweeping New Immigration Crackdown

The United States government announced on Wednesday that it has suspended the processing of immigrant visas for Nigeria and 74 additional countries, marking one of President Donald Trump’s most far-reaching immigration actions since returning to office. The move represents a significant expansion of longstanding policies that allow the U.S. to deny visas to individuals deemed likely to depend on public welfare. This time, however, authorities are applying that rationale to entire nationalities.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott described the decision as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to curb what it views as exploitation of the American immigration system. According to Pigott, visa processing for immigrants from all 75 affected countries will remain on hold while officials conduct a comprehensive reassessment of procedures aimed at preventing the entry of foreign nationals who might rely on public assistance once in the United States.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed the suspension in a post on X, specifying that Somalia—already the subject of Trump’s repeated verbal attacks—was among the affected nations, alongside Russia and Iran. Her post referenced a Fox News report listing additional countries with historically strong ties to Washington, including Brazil, Egypt, and Thailand. The State Department, however, has not yet published an official, complete list.

Immigration restriction has remained a central theme of Trump’s political platform. He has openly expressed a preference for immigrants from European nations and has used inflammatory language to describe certain groups, including Somalis. Since Trump’s return to office, the State Department says it has revoked more than 100,000 visas—a record number within a single year. The Department of Homeland Security also reported that over 605,000 people have been deported, with another 2.5 million leaving the country voluntarily.

The new suspension applies strictly to immigrant visas and does not impact non-immigrant categories such as tourist and business visas. It also does not affect international visitors planning to travel for major sporting events such as this year’s World Cup. However, the administration has reiterated plans to scrutinize applicants’ social media activity as part of its vetting process.

Below is the full list of the 75 countries affected by the U.S. government’s latest immigration directive:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, 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.