US suspends immigrant visa processing for 75 nations

[ad_1] The USA mentioned Wednesday it was suspending the processing of immigrant visas from 75 nations, President Donald Trump's newest transfer in opposition to foreigners looking for to return to America.

The USA has lengthy rejected visas from individuals who seem more likely to find yourself needing authorities welfare, however the State Division mentioned it might now use the identical authority for a blanket suspension of immigrant visas based mostly on nationality.

"The Trump administration is bringing an finish to the abuse of America's immigration system by those that would extract wealth from the American folks," State Division spokesman Tommy Pigott mentioned.

"Immigrant visa processing from these 75 nations might be paused whereas the State Division reassesses immigration processing procedures to forestall the entry of overseas nationals who would take welfare and public advantages," he mentioned.

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the nations affected would come with Somalia – whose folks Trump has attacked in heated phrases after immigrants have been concerned in a funding scandal in Minnesota – in addition to Russia and Iran.

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A US official mentioned that the opposite nations affected would come with quite a few nations with pleasant relations with america, together with Brazil, Egypt and Thailand.

Different nations to face the pause embody Nigeria – Africa's most populous nation – in addition to Iraq and Yemen, the official mentioned.

The State Division didn't instantly launch a full record of nations.

The freeze will start on January 21 with no set time for it to finish, the US official, who was not authorised to talk to the press, mentioned on situation of anonymity.

Trump has made no secret of his need to cut back immigration by people who find themselves not of European descent. He has described Somalis as "rubbish" who ought to "return to the place they got here from" and as a substitute mentioned he was open to Scandinavians shifting to america.

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The State Division mentioned Monday that it has revoked greater than 100,000 visas since Trump's return, a one-year document.

The Division of Homeland Safety final month mentioned that the Trump administration has deported greater than 605,000 folks, and that 2.5 million others left on their very own.

The most recent transfer doesn't have an effect on vacationer, enterprise or different visas, together with for soccer followers looking for to go to for this yr's World Cup, though the Trump administration has vowed to vet all candidates' social media histories.