The Donald Trump administration has indefinitely suspended immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries, marking one of its most expansive efforts yet to restrict legal pathways to the United States, The Guardian reported. 

The freeze, which takes effect on 21 January, targets applicants officials deem likely to become a “public charge” – who they describe as people who may rely on government benefits for basic needs.

The state department wrote on social mediathat it “will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates”.