United States indefinitely pauses immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries

Key facts

• The Trump administration announced it will stop giving out visas to nationals of dozens of countries who are seeking to move to the U.S. permanently.
• The State Department said it would indefinitely pause the issuance of immigrant visas requested by citizens of 75 countries.
• Officials said the pause would apply to immigrant visas, meaning those requested by people abroad who have been sponsored by American relatives or employers to move to the U.S. permanently.
• The suspension does not affect temporary visas requested by would-be tourists and travelers seeking to come to the U.S. on a short-term basis.
• The State Department said the 75 countries were chosen as part of an effort to bar the entry of immigrants who were likely to rely on public assistance once in the U.S.
• The State Department did not formally publish a full list of the 75 affected nations, but said Somalia, Haiti, Iran and Eritrea are among them.
• A list first reported by Fox News, and confirmed by the State Department to CBS News, includes countries like Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Guatemala, Pakistan and Senegal.
• The pause on immigrant visas is set to take effect next week, on Jan. 21.