A recent analysis reveals that the United States historically welcomed immigrants from some of the world’s most corrupt nations. However, last year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that largely put a stop to this immigration.
The study from the Center for Immigration Research examined countries whose citizens faced restrictions on immigration to the U.S. due to Trump’s executive actions.
It particularly highlights the corruption levels in various countries, showing that in fiscal year 2024 and possibly before, the U.S. issued visas to thousands from those identified as the most corrupt.
For instance, South Sudan is noted as the most corrupt nation globally, with Somalia not far behind at second place, according to Transparency International.
Despite this, around 1,800 individuals from South Sudan and Somalia were granted visas to enter the United States in fiscal year 2024.
Despite a partial visa ban, Venezuela is ranked the third most corrupt country, yet approximately 2,600 Venezuelans were also issued entry visas in fiscal year 2024.
Ronald Mortensen from the Center for Immigration Studies argues that thorough scrutiny of applicants from such corrupt countries is almost impossible.
He stated, “There can be no guarantee that the documents available to screen individuals applying for admission to the United States are valid or accurate, due to issues like incompetence, inadequate record-keeping, fraud, bribery, and other personal misconduct.”
Mortensen further explained that bribes allow citizens, and even some non-citizens, to obtain official documents necessary for U.S. admission, including counterfeit birth certificates, forged law enforcement records, fake diplomas, and even fictitious bank statements—documents U.S. authorities typically rely on for vetting.
He noted that President Trump had little choice but to halt immigration from these highly corrupt nations to avoid importing a “culture of corruption,” as reliable screening is very challenging.
