(Adnkronos) – The Trump Administration has globally suspended immigration visa appointments to allow for “in-depth” training of consular officers in an attempt to identify foreign applicants who might become dependent on US public assistance. This is reported by The Hill, citing the US State Department.
The training initiative was launched in early August at all US embassies and consulates worldwide. The State Department clarified that visa appointments and other consular services will be modified and that any changes will be communicated directly to applicants. “Ensuring greater prosperity for Americans means ensuring that visa applicants do not risk becoming a burden on the state, as defined by US laws and regulations, and that they do not risk depending on US social benefits reserved for eligible Americans in need,” a State Department spokesperson said in an email sent to The Hill.
The measure is part of a broader crackdown by the Trump administration on immigration, which in recent months has intensified the revocation of visas and residence permits. Yesterday, the State Department also announced its intention to revoke visas for foreign nationals who entered the US for short trips for tourism or business and then sought to remain in the country by applying for asylum. The procedure could involve 200,000 asylum seekers, thus becoming, according to American media, the largest mass revocation of visas in American history.
