THE United States has announced a suspension of immigrant visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries, marking another major immigration policy shift under President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to a statement released today, the suspension applies to immigrant visas only and is based on nationality.
The US State Department said the pause would remain in effect while immigration procedures are reviewed to prevent the entry of individuals deemed likely to depend on public welfare.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the move was aimed at ending what the administration described as abuse of the US immigration system, adding that visa processing from the affected countries would be reassessed to protect American public resources.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt disclosed on X that the affected countries include Somalia, Russia and Iran, as well as several nations with longstanding diplomatic ties to the United States such as Brazil, Egypt and Thailand.
However, the State Department has yet to publish an official comprehensive list.
President Trump has consistently expressed his intention to curb immigration, particularly from non-European countries.
Since his return to office, the State Department says more than 100,000 visas have been revoked, the highest number recorded within a single year.
The Department of Homeland Security also reported that over 605,000 people have been deported, while about 2.5 million others left voluntarily.
The suspension does not affect tourist, business or other non-immigrant visas, including travel related to major international events such as the World Cup.
Nevertheless, the administration has reiterated plans to intensify scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity.
A total of 75 countries, spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and South America, are impacted by the policy.