The Trump administration is suspending all visa processing for applicants from 75 countries including Pakistan, the State Department said on Wednesday.

The pause will begin on January 21.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also shared the Fox News report on her X account.

Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand are among the affected countries, according to the report.

The memo directs US embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its procedures. No time frame was provided.

The reported pause comes amid the sweeping immigration crackdown pursued by Republican US President Donald Trump since taking office last January.

Reason of this move

Officials described the measure as part of the administration’s “America First” approach.

“We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused,” an official said.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement that his 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“.

“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” he added.

In November, Trump had vowed to permanently paused migration from all “third world countries” following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.