Washington, DC Seventy-five members of the United States Congress have urged the Trump administration to immediately reverse its decision to indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, a move that has already impacted hundreds of thousands of visa applicants worldwide.
The appeal was led by Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng, who addressed a joint letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Immigrant Visa Processing Halted for 75 Countries
On 21 January, the Trump administration suspended immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and several other nations across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
The suspension affects nearly all major immigrant visa categories, including:
- Immediate relatives of US citizens
- Family-sponsored immigrant visas
- Employer-sponsored immigrant visas
- Religious worker visas
- Diversity Visa (DV Lottery) applicants
- Returning resident visas
According to CAPAC, 44% of Asian immigrant visa recipients more than 135,000 individuals are expected to be affected by the policy.
Lawmakers Warn of Family Separation and Economic Harm
Critics argue that the indefinite nature of the suspension, combined with the lack of a clear timeline for resumption, will result in:
- Long-term family separation
- Legal immigrants remaining stuck overseas despite years of vetting
- Workforce shortages affecting US employers
- Economic strain on small and medium-sized businesses
Lawmakers estimate that individuals from the affected countries account for 40% to 45% of all immigrant visas issued annually, meaning nearly half of legal immigration to the United States could be blocked over the next year.
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CAPAC Chair Grace Meng Condemns the Policy
In a statement released on Thursday, CAPAC Chair Grace Meng strongly criticised the administration’s decision.
“The Trump administration’s decision to halt visas for nearly 40 percent of the world is ignorant and xenophobic. They tell immigrants to come the ‘right way’ while deliberately shutting down the very legal pathways that make that possible,” Meng said.
She added that many of the affected individuals have already completed extensive background checks and waited years to immigrate legally to the United States.
State Department Cites Public Charge Concerns
The US State Department defended the suspension by stating that foreign nationals from the impacted countries may be more likely to seek federally funded public benefits and become a public charge.
However, lawmakers pushed back on this justification, noting that long-standing US immigration laws already restrict immigrant visa holders from accessing most federal benefits.
Part of a Broader Immigration Crackdown
The immigrant visa suspension is part of a broader tightening of legal immigration policies under the Trump administration.
Key developments include:
- Existing non-immigrant visa restrictions on countries such as Afghanistan, Laos, and Myanmar
- Expansion of the visa bond programme, requiring certain non-immigrant visa applicants to pay up to $15,000 to secure tourist or business visas
- New financial barriers that make family visits nearly impossible for many overseas relatives
H-1B Visa Changes Hit Skilled Workers
In September, the administration announced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B skilled worker visa applications, a move that disproportionately affects Indian professionals, who make up the majority of H-1B holders.
Additional changes include:
- Expanded social media screening for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants
- Visa stamping delays expected to continue until 2027
- Thousands of workers and family members stranded outside the US
Growing Concerns Over Legal Immigration Access
Beyond visa suspensions, the administration has also:
- Revoked over 100,000 visas
- Halted asylum decision processing
- Cancelled naturalisation ceremonies
- Challenged birthright citizenship
Immigration advocates warn that these actions collectively undermine legal immigration pathways and erode trust in the US immigration system.
Calls for Immediate Reversal
Members of Congress are now demanding that the administration reverse the immigrant visa suspension immediately, arguing that the policy punishes law-abiding immigrants and contradicts America’s long-standing immigration values.
As of now, no official timeline has been announced for when immigrant visa processing for the affected 75 countries may resume.