A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, ruling that the policy exceeded the legal authority of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled on Friday that the State Department policy, introduced in January, was unlawful and conflicted with federal immigration law.
The policy imposed a blanket suspension on immigrant visa processing based on applicants’ nationality. Judge Vargas said the measure directly violated the legal framework governing the processing of immigrant visas.
In her ruling, Vargas described the policy as “patently unlawful”, saying Congress had specifically limited the secretary of state’s authority over consular officers handling immigrant visa applications.
The suspension affected applicants from 75 countries across several regions, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian nations. Countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Balkans were also included, with Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia and Albania among those affected.
The State Department had defended the suspension by arguing that applicants from the designated countries faced a high risk of becoming a “public charge” and relying on government resources in the United States. The department had not immediately commented on the court ruling.
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights organisations, including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, along with immigrant visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members from the affected countries.
The plaintiffs challenged the administration’s decision to suspend immigrant visa issuance based solely on nationality. Judge Vargas, who was appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, ruled in favour of the challengers.
President Donald Trump has pursued a broad immigration crackdown since returning to office, arguing that tougher immigration measures are necessary to strengthen US national security and protect domestic interests.
Rights groups have accused the administration of violating due process and free speech protections while creating an increasingly hostile environment for immigrants and ethnic minorities.
The latest ruling marks another legal setback for the administration’s immigration policies and could reopen the path for immigrant visa applicants from Pakistan and other affected countries, subject to any further court proceedings or appeals.
Also read: US visa rules revised: What this means for Pakistanis?
