See which Latin American and Caribbean countries had U.S. immigration visas suspended

São Paulo, Brazil —  The United States suspended on Wednesday the issuance of all visas to applicants from 75 countries, including 17 South America and Caribbean nations. 

The statament published by the Department of State argued that immigrants must be “financially self-sufficient” and not be a “financial burden” to Americans, calling the banned nations high-risk countries. The measure will start to be effective on January 21.

“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates,” said a post shared by the organization on X. “The freeze will remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”

Some of the countries include Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Uruguay and Haiti. The act does not include tourist visas, which are still available for some of the countries listed.  

Immigration Visas Suspended (Latin American and Caribbean Countries)

1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Bahamas
3. Barbados
4. Belize
5. Brazil
6. Colombia
7. Cuba
8. Dominica
9. Grenada
10. Guatemala
11. Haiti
12. Jamaica
13. Nicaragua
14. Saint Kitts and Nevis
15. Saint Lucia
16. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
17. Uruguay

According to the State Department, dual nationals applying with a valid passport of a country that is not listed above are exempt from the suspension. 

The Trump administration has already revoked over 100,000 visas on January 12, including some 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized visas for individuals who had “encounters with U.S. law enforcement for criminal activity.”. 

U.S. federal welfare programs have been open to immigrants for years now, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – for elderly –,  and the Medicaid Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This applie, for example, to refugees, Legal Permanent Residents/green card holders and children who were born in America, even if their parents were not. 

Alongside the Department of State’s official statement, Washington says it is undergoing a full review of all policies and regulations to make sure the expenses are no longer a “public charge”. 

See the whole list of countries below:

1. Afghanistan
2. Albania
3. Algeria
4. Antigua and Barbuda
5. Armenia
6. Azerbaijan
7. Bahamas
8. Bangladesh
9. Barbados
10. Belarus
11. Belize
12. Bhutan
13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
14. Brazil
15. Burma
16. Cambodia
17. Cameroon
18. Cape Verde
19. Colombia
20. Cote d’Ivoire
21. Cuba
22. Democratic Republic of the Congo
23. Dominica
24. Egypt
25. Eritrea
26. Ethiopia
27. Fiji
28. The Gambia
29. Georgia
30. Ghana
31. Grenada
32. Guatemala
33. Guinea
34. Haiti
35. Iran
36. Iraq
37. Jamaica
38. Jordan
39. Kazakhstan
40. Kosovo
41. Kuwait
42. Kyrgyz Republic
43. Laos
44. Lebanon
45. Liberia
46. Libya
47. Moldova
48. Mongolia
49. Montenegro
50. Morocco
51. Nepal
52. Nicaragua
53. Nigeria
54. North Macedonia
55. Pakistan
56. Republic of the Congo
57. Russia
58. Rwanda
59. Saint Kitts and Nevis
60. Saint Lucia
61. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
62. Senegal
63. Sierra Leone
64. Somalia
65. South Sudan
66. Sudan
67. Syria
68. Tanzania
69. Thailand
70. Togo
71. Tunisia
72. Uganda
73. Uruguay
74. Uzbekistan
75. Yemen

Featured image credit: Public Domain Pictures.