Trump administration announces suspension of visas for 75 countries as shocking details revealed
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Immigration
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: Alex Wong/Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Immigration
The Trump administration is cracking down on travel from these countries to the US after recently rejecting 100,000 visa applications.
The US government has cancelled 100,000 visas since Donald Trump returned to office, according to the Department of State.
After being named POTUS, Trump vowed to 'launch the largest deportation program in American history' so that he could start his bid to get 'criminals out' of the nation.
The Republican said he’d be removing any immigrant in the US without legal permission, stating: "I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible."
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On January 12, it seemed like he was well into his goal, as it was posted that ‘the State Department has now revoked over 100,000 visas, including some 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized visas for individuals who had encounters with US law enforcement for criminal activity’.
But it seems Trump isn’t just looking into who is in the US, but also who can come in.
The POTUS declared an indefinite pause in immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, restricting entry to the US.
The State Department explained on Wednesday (January 14) on X that it wants to put ‘an end to the abuse’ of the system ‘by those who would extract wealth from the American people’ via welfare and benefits.
The order takes effect on January 21, but the administration hasn’t yet released the full list of all 75 countries.
"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," Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, said, per the BBC.
The Department said the list will include the likes of Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea, ‘whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival’.
It added: “We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused.”
However, according to the Associated Press, the visa suspension will not apply to non-immigrant tourist or business visas.
This comes after the administration announced it would halt asylum applications to Afghan nationals immediately following an immigrant from Afghanistan being charged with the November shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Last month, the Trump administration also suspended immigration applications from 19 countries that had already been subject to U.S. travel restrictions, according to NBC News.