The U.S. State Department will suspend visa processing for applicants from 75 nations, including Russia and Iran, starting January 21. This indefinite pause targets individuals deemed potential public charges, based on a broad assessment of their health, age, financial resources, and English proficiency. Consular officers are directed to use expanded discretion in screening candidates.

This policy reversal stems from a November 2025 cable by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which reinstated stricter interpretations of immigration law. It marks a sharp departure from the Biden administration's narrower 2022 rules. The move aims to block immigrants who might rely on government assistance, reflecting the Trump administration's renewed focus on aggressive immigration enforcement.

The directive empowers officers to deny visas based on a "totality of circumstances," scrutinizing factors like chronic illness, obesity, and past use of public benefits. The State Department confirmed exceptions will be very limited. This sweeping crackdown follows a taxpayer-funded benefit fraud scandal in Minnesota involving individuals of Somali descent, which reportedly drew specific attention to Somalia.