The Trump administration is set to suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries starting January 21, Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing a memo from the US State Department.
According to the report, countries affected by the move include Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil, Nigeria and Thailand.
State Department representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported memo, which Fox News said instructs US embassies to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses its procedures. No time frame for the suspension was specified.
The reported pause comes amid a sweeping immigration crackdown pursued by Republican President Donald Trump since taking office last January.
In November, Trump had pledged to “permanently pause” migration from what he described as “Third World countries” following a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national that killed a National Guard member.
