Immigration policy, national security, and the reach of federal law enforcement are colliding in Washington, with new visa restrictions, a sitting senator under investigation, and renewed Democratic efforts to dismantle ICE.
State Department Halts Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries
The State Department is preparing to pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, launching a sweeping reassessment designed to prevent new arrivals who officials believe could become a “public charge” — a legal term for immigrants likely to rely on taxpayer-funded benefits.
According to an internal memo first obtained by Fox News Digital, consular officers have been instructed to deny visas under existing law while the department reevaluates how aggressively it applies public charge standards. The pause is set to begin January 21 and will remain in effect indefinitely.
Countries affected include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, Yemen, and dozens more. Somalia is facing particularly intense scrutiny following a major fraud investigation in Minnesota that uncovered widespread abuse of public benefit programs, much of it tied to Somali nationals or Somali Americans.
Under guidance sent to diplomatic posts worldwide in November 2025, consular officers are now directed to consider a broad range of factors — including health, age, English proficiency, finances, prior use of government assistance, and even the potential need for long-term medical care. Applicants who are older, overweight, or previously institutionalized could face heightened risk of denial.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” spokesperson Tommy Piggott said.
While the public charge provision has existed for decades, its enforcement has fluctuated sharply depending on the administration. Under the current policy, exceptions to the visa pause will be “very limited.”
Sen. Slotkin Under Federal Investigation Over Military Video
Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin says she is now under federal investigation following her participation in a video urging U.S. service members and intelligence personnel to refuse “illegal orders.”
Slotkin told The New York Times that she learned through official channels that the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C. is leading the inquiry. That office is currently headed by Jeanine Pirro. Prosecutors have not disclosed which laws may have been violated, and Pirro’s office declined to comment.
The controversy follows a 90-second video released in November 2025 by Slotkin and five other Democratic lawmakers with military or intelligence backgrounds. The group insisted the message was a reminder that service members swear an oath to the Constitution and have a legal duty to refuse unlawful orders.
President Donald Trump criticized the video at the time, accusing the lawmakers of seditious behavior. He initially suggested their actions were “punishable by death,” remarks he later walked back while maintaining they were “in serious trouble.”
Slotkin, a former CIA officer who served in Iraq, is the second participant in the video to face scrutiny. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired Navy captain and astronaut, has sued the Defense Department over efforts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to censure and demote him for what the Pentagon called “seditious statements.”
Slotkin has described the investigation as political intimidation and says threats against her have escalated. She is now under round-the-clock security monitoring after a bomb threat was made against her family’s home.
Democrats Renew Push to Abolish ICE After Minneapolis Shooting
Rep. Shri Thanedar, a Michigan Democrat, says he plans to introduce legislation this week to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing that the agency is “beyond reform.”
At a press conference, Thanedar accused ICE of operating without adequate oversight and placed blame on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whom he also supports impeaching. His announcement follows the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good during an ICE enforcement operation in Minneapolis.
Authorities say Good attempted to use her vehicle against ICE agents during a confrontation. The Department of Homeland Security described the incident as an act of domestic terrorism, while Noem said an officer fired defensively to protect himself and others.
Thanedar rejected that explanation, calling the shooting proof that ICE cannot be fixed.
“The tragic death of Renee Nicole Good shows that ICE cannot be reformed and must be abolished,” he said.
A press release confirmed plans for an “Abolish ICE Act,” which would dismantle the agency and end its current enforcement authority. The proposal marks a renewed push by progressive Democrats to eliminate ICE entirely — a long-standing goal that has regained momentum amid rising clashes between immigration agents and protesters.
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