The US State Department announced on Wednesday that visa processing for applicants from 75 countries — among them Pakistan — will be temporarily suspended beginning January 21, in a move officials say aims to overhaul existing procedures and tighten immigration controls.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also shared the Fox News report on her X account.
According to the report, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand are among the affected countries,
The memo directs US embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its procedures. No time frame was provided.
The reported pause comes amid the sweeping immigration crackdown pursued by Republican US President Donald Trump since taking office last January.
Officials described the measure as part of the administration’s “America First” approach.
“We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused,” an official said.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement that his department “will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people “.
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits,” he added.
Trump in November, had vowed to permanently paused migration from all “third world countries” following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.
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