Trump Administration Puts America First — Cuts Religious Worker Visa Waits, Freezes Immigrant Visas from 75 Countries

January 15 2026 —

Washington DC - In a sweeping set of actions that underscore the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. State Department unveiled bold new immigration policies designed to strengthen American communities, fortify faith-based institutions, and protect taxpayers from subsidizing foreign welfare dependency.

In a much-anticipated move, DHS announced on January 14 a new regulatory fix that eliminates the onerous one-year foreign residency requirement for R-1 religious workers — priests, pastors, nuns, rabbis, imams, and other faith leaders — after they reach the statutory five-year visa limit. Under the new rule, these essential workers can now depart and immediately reapply to return to the United States without sitting idle abroad for an entire year.

This change brings immediate relief to thousands of congregations across the nation that have for years suffered disruptions in ministry because of needless red tape imposed under the prior regime. Pastors and clergy — long embedded in their communities — can now come back to serve without interminable waits that separated them from their flocks.

A DHS spokesperson framed the development bluntly: “Pastors, priests, nuns, and rabbis are essential to the social and moral fabric of this country.”

Catholic leaders, long vocal advocates on this issue, hailed the change as a major victory for religious liberty and community stability. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said the value of the Religious Worker Visa Program “cannot be overstated” and thanked the administration for restoring common sense.

At the same time, the State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, announced that immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries will be paused beginning January 21, 2026. The policy targets nations whose nationals have been statistically more likely to draw on U.S. public assistance instead of contributing through work and self-sufficiency.

This decisive action reflects a continuation of President Trump’s broader immigration overhaul: moving from open-door policies to one that prioritizes America’s economic and fiscal interests. The pause affects only immigrant visas — not temporary tourist or business visas — and aims to tighten scrutiny on applicants before admitting them as future residents.

Countries impacted span Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, including Afghanistan, Iran, Cuba, Nigeria, Russia, and Somalia.

A State Department statement made the administration’s stance clear:

“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 reassesses immigration procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

The twin moves on January 14 represent a strategic recalibration:

• Faith institutions get the support they deserve — keeping spiritual leaders with their congregations, not stranded abroad.

• U.S. taxpayers are shielded from subsidizing potential welfare recipients through stricter immigrant screening.

• National sovereignty and cultural cohesion return to the center of immigration policy.

For conservatives and faith-minded Americans, these actions answer years of grassroots demands after open-border failures and bureaucratic chaos. They mark not just administrative tweaks, but a return to order, responsibility, and moral clarity in America’s immigration system.

With DHS preparing to publish the rule in the Federal Register, this reform is poised to shape U.S. immigration policy for years to come.