The U.S. State Department has temporarily suspended immigrant visa appointments for applicants around the world due to a training initiative, according to official information, amid the Trump administration’s ethnically biased anti-migrant policies.

The training is intended to help consular officers screen out applicants considered likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits and to ensure a thorough and consistent assessment of visa requests. No further details or timeline were provided.

The pause comes amid President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which has included visa and residence permit revocations and rejections based on political opinions or protests in support of Palestine or against Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

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On Friday, federal Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York struck down the administration’s immigration ban covering applicants from 75 countries, ruling that it exceeded the legal authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

AMERICA FIRST: The Trump administration will PAUSE immigrant visa processing from 75 countries until the U.S. can ensure that incoming immigrants will not become a public charge or extract wealth from American taxpayers. pic.twitter.com/uyQrZbYyO3

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 17, 2026

Human rights groups have condemned the campaign as discriminatory and contrary to freedom of expression and due process. They say it has created an unsafe environment in the United States, especially for ethnic minorities who have expressed concern about racial discrimination.

Although Trump campaigned in 2024 on a promise to end irregular immigration, his administration has also made regular immigration harder, including by imposing new and costly fees on applicants for certain work visas.

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