The Trump administration is suspending all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries starting January 21, Fox News reports, citing a memo from the US State Department.
Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand are among the affected countries, according to the report.
The pause will begin Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the department conducts a reassessment of visa processing.
Somalia has drawn heightened scrutiny from federal officials following a sweeping fraud scandal centered in Minnesota, where prosecutors uncovered massive abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs. Many of those involved are Somali nationals or Somali Americans.
In November 2025, a State Department cable sent to posts around the globe instructed consular officers to enforce sweeping new screening rules under the so-called “public charge” provision of immigration law.
Representatives for the State Department do not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported memo, which Fox News says directs US embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its procedures. No time frame was provided.
The guidance instructs consular officers to deny visas to applicants deemed likely to rely on public benefits, weighing a wide range of factors including health, age, English proficiency, finances and even potential need for long-term medical care.
Older or overweight applicants could be denied, along with those who had any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalization.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
The reported pause comes amid the sweeping immigration crackdown pursued by Republican US President Donald Trump since taking office last January.
In November, Trump had vowed to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries” following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.
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