USA - The US State Department is reportedly pausing immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including more than 10 Caribbean nations. According to Fox News, a State Department memo seen by its digital desk directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures.
It said the pause was set to begin on January 21 and will continue indefinitely. Among the Caribbean countries listed are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The others include, Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen- per Fox News. Last year, US President Donald Trump had vowed to "permanently pause" migration from all "Third World Countries". (Trinidadexpress)
