Asian Americans Advancing Justice Affiliation Decries Hateful and Unwarranted Immigrant Visa Pause
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Liana Liang lliang@ajsocal.orgJames Woo media@advancingjustice-atlanta.orgGrace Pai gpai@advancingjustice-chicago.org
January 16, 2026 – On January 14, the U.S. Department of State announced the indefinite pause on the issuance of immigrant visas for the nationals of 75 countries, including numerous Asian nations. The move is an unprecedented and cruel attack on the immigration pathways established by Congress.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a national affiliation of four independent civil rights organizations, issues the following statement:
“Asian Americans Advancing Justice condemns the Trump administration’s decision to pause the issuance of immigrant visas for individuals of 75 countries. This new policy constitutes one of the most restrictive attacks on the immigration system that our nation has seen in decades. It blocks hundreds of thousands of people from immigration pathways established by Congress and harkens back to the racially discriminatory immigration restrictions of the 1920s that effectively barred Asian and Black immigrants. This decision will separate families and block workers who have followed the necessary steps to acquire permanent status in the United States. Family members of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents living abroad will be prevented from reuniting with their loved ones, violating both the letter and spirit of our immigration laws.
“The pause disproportionately targets immigrants of color—yet another indication of the xenophobia and racism driving this administration’s policies. Asian Americans will suffer under this pause, with 44% of Asian immigrant visa holders—and over 135,000 individuals—barred.
“The State Department has justified this action based on supposed concerns about public benefit usage by immigrants. This is a blatant lie. Various rules already restrict the ability of immigrant visa recipients to qualify for public benefits. Moreover, countless studies have shown that immigrants enhance economic growth, and that access to public benefits leads to better long-term outcomes for children, families and society.
“Policymakers should expand access to immigration and address root causes of poverty and displacement with dignity, not exclusion. We call on the administration to immediately reverse this decision and work with Congress to improve, and not curtail, our immigration system.”
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