(PORTLAND, OREGON) — The White House and the U.S. State Department confirmed an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, drawing sharp condemnation from Portland and Oregon leaders who said the move threatens legal immigration pathways and local communities.
The suspension is set to take effect January 21, 2026, and applies to immigrant visas used for permanent residency, including family-sponsored and employment-based categories, while leaving nonimmigrant visas for tourists, students and business visitors outside its stated scope.
Operational impact on applicants
For families and employers, the practical effect is a pause at the consular stage: cases can stall before interviews are scheduled, interviews can be delayed, and approvals may not move to visa issuance.
People with approved petitions can still find themselves unable to obtain the immigrant visa needed to travel and complete permanent residency processing. Applicants may face expiring medical exams and police certificates, and may need to refresh documents while waiting for any resumption.
Applicants who have reached the DS-260 stage may be unable to move into interview scheduling, while others who have already interviewed may be unable to move into visa issuance and printing if processing is paused.
Official statements and rationale
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott framed the policy as a response to public benefits concerns.
“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people. Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed via social media that the list includes nations such as Somalia, Russia, and Iran, and said the suspension is aimed at ensuring immigrants are “financially self-sufficient” and do not become a “public charge.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was reported to have instructed consular officers to halt applications in accordance with a November 2025 order tightening “public charge” rules, linking the suspension to a broader self-sufficiency framing rather than the case-by-case financial review that applicants often prepare for in individual visa interviews.
Local reaction in Portland and Oregon
In Portland, local officials tied the visa move to broader concerns about federal enforcement and community safety, even as immigrant visa adjudication remains a federal process handled at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
“We stand united as elected officials in saying that we cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts. Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences,”
The joint statement came from Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the City Council condemning what they described as escalating consequences of federal actions in the city.
City Councilor Jamie Dunphy, who represents District 2, described the administration’s actions as “tyranny” and a pattern of federal overreach intended to escalate tensions in sanctuary cities.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek criticized the administration’s “reckless agenda,” saying, “Our immigrant communities are important for who we are as a state. we don’t need anybody’s help [from federal military/ICE intervention]; we’re doing just fine.”
Local leaders’ statements have unfolded alongside debate in Portland over the city’s relationship with federal immigration authorities, including the broader politics of sanctuary policies and city facilities, discussed in reporting on expelling ICE.
Portland codified its sanctuary status through the “Protect Portland Initiative” in October 2025, which prohibits city resources from assisting federal immigration enforcement and shapes local political debate about federal actions.
Scope: which visas and countries are affected
The administration’s confirmed scope draws a bright line between immigrant visas and nonimmigrant visas, an important distinction for people trying to plan travel and relocations.
Immigrant visas are the pathway to lawful permanent residency through consular processing, while nonimmigrant visas cover temporary travel categories such as tourism, study, and some work assignments.
Country coverage is framed as “75 countries,” and the list is described as including Afghanistan, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Somalia, Thailand, and Yemen. Consular processing typically turns on nationality as reflected in a passport used for the visa application, and the policy’s announced exceptions reflect that structure.
- One stated exception is for dual nationals who use a passport from a non-listed country.
- Another is a discretionary exception for “America First” national interests on a case-by-case basis, which can require extensive documentation and offers no guarantee of approval.
Practical effects and common scenarios
The suspension could appear at multiple points in real cases: applicants may be blocked from scheduling interviews, or from moving from interview to visa issuance and printing.
Families waiting to reunite can face open-ended delays even after a petition has been approved, while employers expecting a worker to arrive on an immigrant visa can see start dates collapse when the consular step stops.
- Medical exams and police certificates can expire while cases are paused.
- Applicants may need to refresh documents and reassemble records during an indefinite wait.
- Household plans—quitting jobs, ending leases, enrolling children—can become costly and reversible.
The policy shifts the process from an individualized “public charge” assessment to a nationality-based pause, meaning otherwise-ready applicants can be stopped solely because of nationality rules rather than case-specific financial reviews.
Local security context and federal activity
Portland officials referenced a January 2026 shooting involving federal agents in East Portland as part of their argument that heightened federal operations are creating fear and instability in immigrant communities.
That episode does not change the legal criteria used by consulates to issue immigrant visas, but local leaders have tied the visa suspension to broader concerns about federal enforcement and community safety.
Travel, nonimmigrant visas, and screening
The administration confirmed the suspension affects immigrant visas while leaving nonimmigrant visas outside its stated scope. Officials clarified that nonimmigrant travel for the upcoming FIFA World Cup remains open, though travelers from the 75 countries may face enhanced screening.
Nonimmigrant visas are not a promise of entry. Even with a valid tourist or student visa, travelers can face questioning at ports of entry and extended secondary inspections.
For temporary visitors planning trips tied to major events, the practical advice is to carry documentation supporting the purpose of travel, a clear itinerary, and be prepared to answer questions about length of stay and return plans.
Alternatives and questions about temporary work routes
Questions have emerged about whether employment-based plans could shift toward temporary work visas while immigrant visas are paused, including H-1B routes for specialty workers.
The suspension as confirmed is limited to immigrant visas rather than all travel categories. People weighing options have been pointed toward reporting on H-1B questions as they try to separate permanent residency processing from temporary work travel.
Practical next steps for applicants and employers
For applicants already in the immigrant pipeline, practical next steps often depend on where the case sits. Those at the National Visa Center or waiting for an interview can track consular updates closely.
Those who have completed interviews but are waiting on issuance can monitor whether their case is placed into a paused posture rather than a routine post-interview review.
- Track consulate communications and keep a dated log of operational updates.
- Preserve receipts and records for medical exams, police certificates, and other time-sensitive documents.
- Rely on formal agency guidance and operational notices rather than general political statements to determine local consular activity.
Key policy details and statistics
The policy carries a statistical claim that has fueled opposition. Experts at the Cato Institute estimate the ban will affect nearly half of all legal immigrants to the U.S., potentially turning away 315,000 individuals in the next year.
This section is intended to introduce an interactive summary of key policy details, affected country coverage, and statistical estimates so readers can explore the scope and potential numeric impacts by category and timeline.
Official sources and where to verify
Applicants and employers looking for confirmation have been advised to rely on formal agency guidance and operational notices from the relevant agencies and consulates handling their cases.
Readers can monitor agency sites including the U.S. Department of State’s State Department website, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s DHS website, and the USCIS newsroom, along with notices from the specific embassy or consulate handling an immigrant visa case.
This section is intended to lead into an interactive tool that aggregates official notices and links by date and consulate, helping users verify operational guidance relevant to their case.
Broader implications and concluding context
In Portland, officials opposing the move have cast it as part of what they call a broader “national immigration crackdown,” but for many families the most immediate reality is simpler.
Immigrant visas that would have enabled permanent reunification now face an indefinite pause, with no timeline for when consular processing will resume, creating uncertainty and practical hardship for affected families and employers.
Portland leaders react to White House’s 75-country visa suspension
The U.S. government will pause immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries starting January 2026 to ensure immigrant self-sufficiency. This policy impacts family-sponsored and employment-based permanent residency applicants, particularly from nations like Somalia, Russia, and Yemen. Local Oregon officials have blasted the move as a threat to legal immigration, while experts warn it may affect nearly half of all legal immigration to the United States.
