President Donald Trump's suspension of immigration visas affects US allies in Latin America, including left-leaning Uruguay. The measure, starting January 21, targets those seeking permanent residence and work in the US, sparing tourists and temporary workers. Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi voiced concern over the policy's implications.
Donald Trump's latest immigration visa restriction aims to curb entries from 75 countries deemed likely to rely on US government aid. The policy hits both allies and foes in Latin America, listing left-leaning nations like Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala alongside US adversaries Nicaragua and Cuba. Meanwhile, conservative-led allies such as Argentina, Paraguay, and Ecuador are spared.
Uruguay, which sought a visa waiver program under Joe Biden, now joins the blacklist. US Ambassador to Montevideo, Lou Rinaldi, denied any special treatment for the South American nation. President Yamandú Orsi, who recently joined Brazil and Colombia in condemning the US intervention in Venezuela that captured Nicolás Maduro, met with Rinaldi on Thursday. Afterward, Orsi stated: “but in terms of the signal it sends, of course it concerns us”.
Though the measure won't impact many Uruguayans—only 123 such visas were issued to them in 2025 out of over 237,000 for Latin America and the Caribbean—it underscores bilateral strains. Uruguay keeps strong US ties, with America as its top software export market, even as China leads in beef and soy purchases. The nation provides public healthcare, free university education, and progressive policies on abortion, cannabis, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia, potentially reducing migration incentives.
