The U.S. has paused all routine visa applications from the southern African country of Zimbabwe, the latest restriction on African travelers.
A spokesperson for the State Department told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “The U.S. Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, beginning August 8, will pause all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services with the exception of most diplomatic and official visas, while we address concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe.”
The move is part of the Trump administration’s wider push to tighten immigration controls, particularly targeting countries with high visa overstay rates.
The U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe announced that it was halting all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services from the county. Most diplomatic and official visas will be exempt from the pause.
The embassy described the move as part of efforts to “prevent visa overstay and misuse.”
A senior State Department official pointed Semafor to Zimbabwe’s B1 and B2 visa overstay rate, which is 10.57 percent. They added that there were also concerns about overstays on student visas.
The pause on visas from Zimbabwe is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to restrict travel from African nations in an effort to curb illegal migration.
The pause on visas from Zimbabwe comes just days after the U.S. launched a 12-month pilot program requiring visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia pay a refundable bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, which would be forfeited if they overstayed.
In June, the Trump administration also imposed travel bans on citizens from 12 countries, seven of them in Africa.
The Trump administration also told 36 countries, including Zimbabwe, to improve the vetting of travelers or face travel bans.
According to Semafor, a State Department official also linked the visa pause to concerns over Zimbabwe’s refusal to a “safe third country” or “third country national” agreement, which would allow asylum seekers who passed through Zimbabwe to have their claims processed there rather than in the United States.
The U.S. has also pushed African countries to accept deported immigrants from other nations. Eswatini, Rwanda and South Sudan have agreed.
A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement: “The Trump Administration is protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process. We are always working to prevent visa overstay and misuse.”
The State Department said that applicants who had scheduled visa interviews will be informed once appointments can be rescheduled.
