US President Donald Trump’s administration has temporarily paused visa appointment scheduling worldwide as the government intensifies its immigration enforcement efforts.
Media quoted a US State Department spokesperson as saying that the department had launched a global training programme for consular staff at American embassies and consulates.
Visa appointment schedules will be modified to accommodate the training, the spokesperson said. The move comes as the Trump administration pursues a sweeping immigration crackdown, including visa and green-card cancellations and stricter scrutiny of applications.
Some applicants have reportedly faced difficulties over political views and participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations opposing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The administration has defended its immigration policies as necessary to strengthen US national security.
However, several measures have encountered legal challenges. Last Friday, a US judge ruled against an administration policy that had halted the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, finding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his legal authority in implementing the policy.
The State Department has not provided a detailed schedule for the training. It said the programme would help consular officials identify applicants who may become reliant on US government benefits and promote a more comprehensive and consistent assessment of visa applications.
Trump’s immigration policies have drawn criticism from human rights organisations, which accuse the administration of discriminatory practices and violations of free speech and due process. Rights advocates have also raised concerns about the impact of the crackdown on ethnic minorities and the risk of racial profiling.
