The State Department says it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.<\/b>
\nThe State Department said Wednesday it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.
The State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, said it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa applications from the countries affected in accordance with a broader order issued in November that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become \u201cpublic charges\u201d in the U.S.
The suspension, which will begin Jan. 21, will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, or temporary tourist or business visas.
\u201cThe Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America\u2019s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,\u201d the department said in a statement. \u201cImmigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.\u201d
The list includes Russia, Iran and Afghanistan, as well as multiple countries in Africa, according to the State Department.
President Donald Trump\u2019s administration has already severely restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries, many of them in Africa.
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