Trump announces sharp decline in immigrant visa quota for 2026
World
Immigration should not harm the country’s national interests: Donald Trump
WASHINGTON (Dunya News) - US President Donald Trump has set a new cap on the number of immigrant visas for 2026, allowing only 7,500 immigrants to enter the United States next year — the lowest limit since the enactment of the Refugee Act of 1980.
President Trump stated that his administration is reducing the number of immigrants in US history, emphasizing that immigration should not harm the country’s national interests.
He further claimed that “white Africans in South Africa are facing the threat of genocide,” while noting that the current annual refugee cap stands at 125,000.
The Trump administration also announced preferential treatment for white South Africans, a move that critics say echoes past discriminatory immigration laws in US history.
Crowds start to gather for anti-Trump 'No Kings' rallies
Under the new policy, refugees will be subject to stricter security screenings, requiring approval from both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
In June, Trump had issued a new executive order regulating the entry of foreign nationals into the United States.
Human rights organisations have strongly criticised the decision, warning that it will further restrict America’s immigration policy. Experts say the move marks a sharp departure from long-standing US commitments to humanitarian resettlement and refugee protection.
