In US ally Thailand, feelings of betrayal after Trump’s visa freeze

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete by Vijitra DuangdeeJanuary 24, 2026 at 12:44 AM
In US ally Thailand, feelings of betrayal after Trump’s visa freeze

AI Summary

long article 4 min

A recent US visa freeze impacting 75 countries, including Thailand, has sparked disappointment and anxiety among Thais planning to immigrate to the United States. The Trump administration cited "unacceptable rates" of welfare benefit claims by migrants from these countries as the reason for the indefinite pause on processing immigrant visa applications. Many Thais, like Khaochat Mankong, who were preparing to join spouses in the US, now face an uncertain future. The freeze affects various visa categories, including spousal, dependent, and employment-based visas, disrupting plans for families and prospective workers. Social media is filled with stories of Thais expressing fears of separation and lost opportunities due to the policy change.

Keywords

us visa freeze 100% thailand 90% immigrant visas 80% welfare benefits 70% us immigration policy 60% marriage visas 60% employment visas 50% thai nationals 50% k-class visas 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative
Score: -0.60

Source Transparency

Source
Al Jazeera
Political Lean
Center (0.00)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
Thailand

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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