The Trump administration’s decision to suspend immigration applications from 75 countries, including Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, has dealt a blow to several Asian countries.
The suspension, which takes effect on January 21, is the first time the U.S. has restricted applicants from Cambodia and Thailand and comes just months after U.S. President Donald Trump Signed a trade agreement with both countries during the 2025 ASEAN Summit. He assured Southeast Asian leaders at the event that they could look to the United States as a “strong partner and friend” for years to come.
The suspension also includes several other countries in Asia, including South Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as countries in Central Asia and the Middle East. The suspension only covers immigrant visas; non-immigrant visas, such as tourist and business visas, are not affected. (The United States will host the FIFA World Cup this year).
“President Trump has made clear that immigrants must be economically self-sufficient and not be a financial burden to Americans,” U.S. State Department wrote in the post January 14th. It went on to say that it was beginning “a comprehensive review of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure that immigrants from these high-risk countries do not receive benefits or become public charges in the United States.” The post made clear that while nationals of the affected countries can submit applications, visas will not be issued during the pause.
“Given the nature of the U.S.’s dealings with other countries, these suspensions can be seen as another way for the U.S. to coerce countries into making deals they would otherwise not want to make,” said Nona Pepito, associate professor of economics at Singapore Management University.
Trump’s engagement with Southeast Asia remains largely focused on trade, although the U.S. president also tried last year to negotiate a ceasefire in a violent border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.
The ceasefire agreement eventually broke down, and the two countries start fighting again In late December; both countries are now operating under another ceasefire brokered by China. Last week, the U.S. Bid $45 million Aid was provided to both countries to help maintain the truce.
Laos has implemented a comprehensive travel ban. Cambodia has also been targeted by the Trump administration before, appearing in A leaked State Department memo Last July, the document flagged “concerns” about the Southeast Asian nation’s immigration policies, although this was not included in subsequent travel restrictions.
Prior to this suspension, Thailand had not been targeted by U.S. immigration policy. Pepito warned that the ban could “pull the Thai government and its people closer to China.” “If the United States is seen as an unreliable partner, Thailand, a key treaty ally, may seek security and economic cooperation elsewhere.”
Tan Sook Rei, a senior lecturer at Singapore’s James Cook University (JCU), said Thailand’s inclusion was “puzzling”. She noted that the Philippines and Vietnam, the largest sources of U.S. immigrant visas, are both “conspicuously absent” from the visa suspension list. “The policy seems less concerned with managing immigration numbers than with political signaling.”
Jacob Wood, an associate professor of economics at James Cook University, pointed to accusations by U.S. officials that Thai companies have been issuing false certificates of origin to support China’s “tariff laundering” practices as a source of tension between Washington and Bangkok.
Trump has launched a sweeping crackdown on immigration since taking office a year ago. Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced “Historic progress has been made in defending the motherland,” claims more than 2.5 million “illegal aliens” have left the United States
The United States has also tightened access to legal immigration into the country. Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which provides safe haven to individuals overseas of “special humanitarian concern.”
Additionally, the president has increased scrutiny of international students trying to attend school in the United States. According to statistics, the number of international freshmen enrolling at a U.S. college or university in the fall of 2025 dropped by 17% School of International Education.
The United States has also raised the cost to $100,000 for the H-1B employment visa, which is typically used by highly skilled workers in industries such as technology.
This story was originally published on wealth network