The US has paused visa appointments for applicants worldwide as President Donald Trump steps up his immigration crackdown during his second term in the White House, Reuters reported on Tuesday (local time).
A US State Department spokesperson stated that the department had launched a global training initiative across all US embassies and consulates worldwide, adding that visa service appointments will be adjusted to accommodate the training, according to the report. The department noted that the training initiative was launched this month across US diplomatic missions globally to strengthen the manner in which officers assess visa applications. Trump has maintained that his immigration crackdown is aimed at improving domestic security. However, his policies have faced legal challenges and criticism from human rights groups, which have accused the administration of discriminatory practices and violations of free speech and due process rights.
“A more prosperous America means ensuring that visa applicants are not likely to become a public charge, as defined under US law and regulation, and not likely to become dependent on US public benefits reserved for qualified Americans in need,” a State Department spokesperson told the Financial Times. The spokesperson added that the department had launched “a global training initiative” to “ensure all consular officers are fully equipped to evaluate every visa applicant comprehensively and consistently”. “To accommodate this in-depth training, appointments for visa services will be adjusted,” the spokesperson said.
However, in an earlier setback for the Trump administration, a US judge on August 21 struck down a policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that it exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority.
