U.S. to droop immigrant visas from 75 international locations over public help considerations : NPR

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Ramon Espinosa/AP WASHINGTON — The State Division stated Wednesday it should droop the processing of immigrant visas for residents of 75 international locations, together with Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed more likely to require public help whereas dwelling in the USA.

The State Division, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa functions from the international locations affected in accordance with a broader order issued in November that tightened guidelines round potential immigrants who would possibly change into "public costs" within the U.S.

The step builds on earlier immigration and journey bans by the administration on almost 40 international locations and is a part of President Trump's ongoing efforts to tighten U.S. entry requirements for foreigners.

"The Trump administration is bringing an finish to the abuse of America's immigration system by those that would extract wealth from the American individuals," the division stated in an announcement. "Immigrant visa processing from these 75 international locations can be paused whereas the State Division reassess immigration processing procedures to stop the entry of overseas nationals who would take welfare and public advantages."

The suspension, which can start Jan. 21, won't apply to candidates searching for non-immigrant visas, or non permanent vacationer or enterprise visas, who make up the overwhelming majority of visa seekers. Demand for non-immigrant visas is predicted to rise dramatically within the coming months and years as a result of upcoming 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics each of which the U.S. will host or co-host.

Cable requires screening of non-immigrant visa candidates A separate discover despatched to all U.S. embassies and consulates stated that non-immigrant visa candidates ought to be screened for the likelihood that they may search public advantages in the USA.

"With the uncovering of large public advantages fraud throughout the USA, the Trump administration is laser-focused on eliminating and stopping fraud in public advantages applications," stated the cable that referred particularly to most non-immigrant visa functions and was despatched on Monday.

The cable, a replica of which was obtained by The Related Press, urged consular officers to make sure that foreigners eager to journey to the U.S. "have been absolutely vetted and screened" for whether or not they might depend on public companies earlier than they're issued a visa.

The cable famous a number of instances that it's as much as the applicant to show that they might not apply for public advantages whereas within the U.S. and stated consular officers who suspect the applicant would possibly apply ought to require them to fill out a kind proving their monetary bona fides.

President Trump's administration has already severely restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for residents of dozens of nations, lots of them in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Consular officers should think about a spread of non-public particulars The November steering on which Wednesday's choice is predicated directed U.S. Embassy and consulate officers to comprehensively and totally vet visa candidates to reveal that they won't have to depend on public advantages from the federal government any time after their admission within the U.S.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3103x2065+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F83%2F35%2F08103f1e4640a96505bc56d52730%2Fap26013628117938.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3103x2065+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F83%2F35%2F08103f1e4640a96505bc56d52730%2Fap26013628117938.jpg" class="img" alt="Secretary of State Marco Rubio makes a statement to reporters while meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at the State Department in Washington on Tuesday." loading="lazy"/> Secretary of State Marco Rubio makes an announcement to reporters whereas assembly with Armenian Overseas Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on the State Division in Washington on Tuesday. Cliff Owen/AP cover caption

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Cliff Owen/AP Whereas federal regulation already required these searching for everlasting residency or authorized standing to show they would not be a public cost, Trump in his first time period widened the vary of profit applications that would disqualify candidates, and the rules within the cable seem to go additional in scope.

Immigrants searching for entry into the U.S. already endure a medical examination by a doctor who's been permitted by a U.S. Embassy. They're screened for communicable illnesses, like tuberculosis, and requested to reveal any historical past of drug or alcohol use, psychological well being situations or violence. They're additionally required to have quite a few vaccinations.

The brand new directive expanded these with extra particular necessities. It stated consular officers should think about a spread of particular particulars about individuals searching for visas, together with their age, well being, household standing, funds, training, expertise and any previous use of public help whatever the nation. It additionally stated they need to assess candidates' English proficiency and might achieve this by conducting interviews in English.

Specialists stated on the time it may additional restrict who will get to enter the nation at a time when the Republican administration is already tightening these guidelines.

The international locations affected by the suspension introduced on Wednesday are: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.