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The administration of President Donald Trump has suspended visa processing for citizens of 75 countries as part of a review of immigration procedures, a spokesperson for the State Department confirmed on Wednesday, as reported by Reuters.
The official did not provide additional details regarding the scope or duration of the measure, which is part of the stricter immigration policy promoted by the current government.
The British agency recalled that President Trump had promised in November "a permanent pause" on migration from "Third World countries" following a shooting near the White House involving an Afghan citizen.
According to Fox News, which obtained an internal memo from the Department of State, the suspension will take effect on January 21 and will continue indefinitely while the eligibility criteria are reassessed.
The document instructs U.S. embassies and consulates to deny visas under existing law until the review is completed.
The report from the American media details that the affected countries include Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Thailand, among others.
The pause will mainly apply to immigrant visa applicants under the provision known as “public charge”.
Fox News adds that the measure aims to prevent the entry of individuals deemed likely to become dependent on social benefits in the United States.
The evaluation factors include age, health, economic solvency, proficiency in English, and any prior use of public assistance programs.
The State Department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, told the media that the government "will use its authority to prevent the entry of foreigners who may become a burden on American taxpayers or abuse the generosity of the people of the United States."
Reuters reported that the decision has no set timeline and that U.S. embassies must implement the instruction immediately while the internal review of consular procedures continues.
In December, the immigration policy of the United States tightened once again when the White House confirmed the expansion of the so-called travel ban, a measure that at that time affected an additional twenty countries and kept Cuba under partial entry restrictions, in a decision that reinforced the radical shift driven by President Donald Trump since his return to power.
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