JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a week’s time, the U.S. plans to halt visa processing for citizens from 75 nations, identified by the State Department as having a high probability of becoming reliant on public aid once in the U.S.

Proponents of this policy told First Coast News that it prioritizes Americans by emphasizing economic independence and bolstering national security. Opponents, however, caution that it could lead to family separations, negatively impact local economies, and unfairly discriminate against specific nations.

Countries affected by this decision include the Bahamas, Jamaica, Colombia, Cuba, Brazil, Haiti, and Afghanistan.

The State Department revealed on Wednesday that the Trump administration is suspending immigrant visa processing for these countries, citing their “unacceptable” rate of welfare dependency on American resources.

This move is part of a broader crackdown on immigration.

A Jacksonville Immigration attorney, Anny Leon, says the suspension could have wide-ranging consequences.

“There’s family members, there’s businesses who are going to be suffering that perhaps were petitioning somebody from abroad to come work in the US,” Leon said.

Leon questions the administration’s reasons, saying that most immigrants already face strict limits on public assistance.

She also adds the list of affected countries follows a familiar pattern.

“These are the same exact countries that you continue to see in every single list that the government puts out, you know, they are absolutely being targeted,” said Leon. 

John Scott, President of the Jacksonville Young Republicans, said the U.S. should continue focusing on helping the American people.

“I stand with President Trump and the Trump administration,” Scott said. “We should be focused on the American people first. There has been a great emphasis placed on helping individuals, Americans specifically, out of these places of poverty and doing so through economic freedom, not simply through providing government handouts.”

He argues the visa suspension is about safety and security.

“The government should be placing a priority on the protection and safety of American people and of law enforcement,” he said.

Leon urges immigrants and their families to stay informed as policies continue to change.

“It affects a lot of people. I mean, it affects people that already have an approved interview and they’re just waiting for their visa, you know, their green card to come in over there, their visa.

The pause takes effect Jan. 21 and the State Department says it will “remain active until the U.S. can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.”

The suspension applies only to immigrant visas belonging to people seeking to live permanently in the U.S.

Temporary visas for tourists, students and short-term workers, including World Cup-related travel, will not be affected.

The full list of countries will include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.