The list of affected countries spans Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Latin America, and includes Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Afghanistan, Iran, Haiti, Brazil, Russia and Yemen, among others.
Washington has pointed to varied reasons for the move, including past fraud cases and welfare abuse concerns. Somalia, for instance, has faced heightened scrutiny following a major fraud scandal in Minnesota involving misuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programmes, with many suspects linked to the Somali community.
The decision builds on guidance issued to U.S. embassies in November 2025, directing officers to apply stricter screening under the “public charge” provision of immigration law. Factors to be considered include age, health, finances, English proficiency and potential need for long-term medical care. Applicants with a history of cash assistance or institutional care could also be denied.
While the “public charge” rule has existed for decades, its enforcement has shifted across administrations. A broader interpretation introduced in 2019 under President Trump was later rolled back by the Biden administration in 2022, which narrowed the benefits considered. The latest move signals a return to tougher standards.
Uganda, now among 26 African countries on the list, has been directly affected by the suspension. The State Department said the freeze would not apply to non-immigrant visas such as tourist and business travel, though officers have been instructed to intensify screening even in those categories.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the misuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the State Department said in a statement.
For Kenya, widely viewed as a key U.S. ally in the region, the exemption underscores its strategic standing. However, analysts warn that the decision could still have indirect effects, as increased demand and scrutiny ripple across the region.
Kenya and Burundi have been exempted from a US decision to pause immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries over public charge and welfare concerns starting 21 January 2026 | Dawan Africa