WASHINGTON, 26 August 2026 (Ghufran) — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has paused visa appointments for applicants around the world as part of a broader immigration crackdown during Trump’s second term in office. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that the department had launched a global training initiative at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. Visa appointments will be adjusted to accommodate the training, the spokesperson said. The administration has pursued an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign that includes visa and green card revocations and the rejection of applications for a range of reasons, including applicants’ political views and participation in pro-Palestinian protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.Trump has said the measures are aimed at strengthening domestic security. The immigration crackdown has also faced legal challenges. On Friday, a U.S. judge struck down an administration policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, ruling that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s legal authority.

The State Department did not provide details about the training or specify how long it would last. It said the initiative was intended to help consular officers identify applicants considered likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits and to ensure visa applications are evaluated comprehensively and consistently.The pause in visa appointments was reported earlier by the Financial Times, which said some immigrant visa applicants with scheduled interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates had received emails informing them that their appointments were being rescheduled. Applicants were told they would receive further notification of new interview dates. Human rights organizations have widely criticized Trump’s immigration policies, describing them as discriminatory and arguing that some measures violate free speech and due process protections. Rights groups have also raised concerns that the crackdown could create an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities who fear increased racial profiling. Although Trump campaigned in 2024 on a promise to curb illegal immigration, his administration has also introduced measures that have made some forms of legal immigration more difficult and costly, including new and higher fees for applicants seeking certain work visas.