In just the first two weeks of 2026, the United States has rolled out one of the most sweeping sets of travel and migration restrictions in recent years, with Pacific Island nations among the hardest hit. From suspended visa categories and steep financial bonds to outright freezes on applications, the measures have sent shockwaves through island communities with long-standing social, economic and familial ties to the US.
Confirmed on Thursday, 15 January, Fiji is among 75 countries from which the United States will suspend the issuance of immigrant visas starting January 21. While the move does not apply to non-immigrant visas — such as those for tourism or short-term business travel — it effectively closes the door on permanent migration pathways for thousands of prospective applicants.
At the same time, citizens of several Pacific Island countries seeking temporary entry to the US will now be required to lodge visa bonds of up to USD$15,000, a sum that represents a formidable barrier for applicants from developing economies. In the most severe case so far, Tongan nationals have been subjected to a complete freeze on all visa applications, a policy that came into force earlier this month and affects a diaspora of roughly 79,000 Tongan Americans.
The scope and speed of the measures underscore the Trump administration’s renewed hardline approach to migration, which officials say is aimed at curbing welfare dependency and tightening security vetting. Critics, however, argue that the Pacific has been disproportionately swept up in a policy framework designed with far larger migration flows in mind.
A widening net
According to a leaked US State Department memo, the new restrictions are targeted at nationalities deemed more likely to require public assistance while living in the United States. In a statement reported by the Associated Press, the State Department said the administration was “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 reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” the statement said.
The language places several Pacific Island nations in the same policy category as countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Russia and Venezuela — a comparison that has caused quiet frustration among regional leaders and Pacific communities in the US.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka struck a notably blunt tone in remarks to the Fiji Sun on Friday, suggesting that his country bore responsibility for Washington’s decision.
“We rank very highly. They are illegal immigrants. They are there without authority and must be dealt with according to the law of the United States,” Rabuka said. “We have to take the bull by the horns and make sure we comply with the new rules that will be placed on us.”
His comments reflect a difficult balancing act for Pacific governments, many of which rely on migration, remittances and seasonal labour mobility as economic lifelines, while also seeking to maintain favourable relations with Washington.
Who is affected
Among those most affected by the new measures are Fijians, Tongans, Tuvaluans and ni-Vanuatu. Tongans, in particular, appear to be under intensified scrutiny. While the State Department has not publicly detailed why Tonga was singled out for a full visa freeze, White House briefings have pointed to high visa overstay rates and concerns surrounding Citizenship by Investment (CBI) schemes that allegedly lack robust background checks.
Tonga has been exploring the possibility of developing its own CBI programme, placing it in a similar category to countries such as Vanuatu and Nauru, both of which already operate such schemes. US officials have repeatedly expressed concern that poorly regulated CBI programmes could be exploited by individuals seeking alternative travel documents to bypass security screening.
Under the new suspension regime, several major visa categories have been halted for affected countries, including B-1 (business), B-2 (tourist), F (student), M (vocational) and J (exchange visitor) visas. However, the policy does not apply retroactively to existing visa holders, and a number of exceptions remain in place.
These include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying on passports from unaffected countries, Special Immigrant Visas for certain US government employees, participants in major international sporting events, and existing lawful permanent residents.
The visa bond barrier
In parallel with visa suspensions, the US has launched a new Visa Bond Pilot Program that applies to Fiji, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and several other Pacific nations. Under the scheme, applicants for certain temporary visas must post a bond of USD$10,000, with the amount adjustable — up to a maximum of USD$15,000 — based on individual circumstances.
The bond is intended to be refunded if the visa holder complies fully with the terms of their stay, including departing the US on time. While US officials argue the system incentivises compliance and reduces overstays, critics say it effectively prices out ordinary Pacific Islanders.
For many families, the bond represents several years’ income. Regional analysts warn it could sharply reduce educational exchanges, short-term work opportunities and family visits, while also reinforcing perceptions that Pacific migrants are being collectively penalised.
Welfare at the centre of policy
Central to the Trump administration’s migration philosophy is the idea that those entering the US — even legally — must be able to “pay their own way”. Social media activity and public benefit usage appear to be among the indicators used to assess this standard.
In a Truth Social post on January 7, President Trump shared a chart detailing welfare and public assistance usage among migrant households. Several Pacific nations featured prominently. The Marshall Islands ranked fourth at 71.4 percent, followed by Samoa at 63.4 percent, the Federated States of Micronesia at 58.1 percent, Tonga at 54.4 percent and Fiji at 40.8 percent. American Samoa, a US territory, appeared at 42.9 percent.
While the figures have been used to justify tighter controls, migration experts caution that they lack broader context. Pacific Island communities often have distinct demographic profiles, including larger household sizes, lower average incomes and historical ties to the US that shape patterns of settlement and support.
Moreover, Pacific Islanders account for a very small share of the overall immigrant population. According to the US Migration Policy Institute, as of 2023 there were an estimated 166,389 immigrants in the US born in Oceania, excluding Australia and New Zealand. That represents roughly 0.3 percent of the foreign-born population.
“Even if welfare usage rates are higher in some communities, the absolute numbers are tiny,” one regional policy analyst noted. “This is not what is driving US public spending, but the optics are politically powerful.”
Not the first time
The latest measures also revive memories of past instances in which Pacific states have been caught up in US migration policies seemingly by mistake. In July last year, Tuvalu was briefly included on a list of countries where visa bans were being “strongly considered”. The microstate sought urgent clarification and eventually received written assurance that its inclusion was the result of “an administrative and systemic error on the part of the US Department of State”.
That episode has heightened concerns that Pacific nations, with limited diplomatic capacity, are particularly vulnerable to being swept into broad policy frameworks designed elsewhere.
As 2026 unfolds, Pacific governments are expected to intensify diplomatic engagement with Washington, seeking exemptions, clarifications or adjustments to the new rules. For now, however, families, students and workers across the region face a sharply narrowed pathway to the United States — and a sobering reminder of how quickly global migration tides can turn.
