Item 1 of 2 Men toss squash onto the banks of the Niger River in Niamey, September 18, 2013. REUTERS/Joe Penney/File Photo[1/2]Men toss squash onto the banks of the Niger River in Niamey, September 18, 2013. REUTERS/Joe Penney/File PhotoPurchase LicensingRights, opens new tabWASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) – The United States is pausing all routine visa services at U.S. embassy in Nigerien capital Niamey until further notice, according to a State Department spokesperson and an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters on Saturday.The July 25-dated cable did not provide a reason for the move but a State Department spokesperson said the pause, which would cover all immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, was in place until Washington addressed “concerns with the Government of Niger.”Sign uphere.The spokesperson did not provide further details on the reason, but said that most diplomatic and official visas were excepted from the pause.”The Trump Administration is focused on protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” the Department spokesperson said.The diplomatic cable also instructed consular officers in other visa processing posts to apply “heightened scrutiny” when assessing non-immigrant visa applications for Nigerien nationals, whose overstay rates it said were 8 percent for visitor visas and 27 percent for student and exchange visas.Consular managers should make an effort to reduce the number of overstays by nonimmigrant visa holders in the United States, the cable said and added: “In this regard, particular vigilance is needed in adjudicating Nigerien NIV applicants.”The U.S. embassy in Niamey has informed all individuals impacted, the spokesperson added.As part of his hardline stance on immigration, President Donald Trump has ordered a nationwide campaign to arrest migrants who are in the country illegally and has vowed to deport millions of people, executi
Source: Reuters Africa
