WASHINGTON: A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled in Manhattan on Friday that the State Department policy exceeded the legal authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The policy, introduced in January, imposed a blanket suspension on immigrant visa processing based on applicants’ nationalities.
Vargas said the measure violated federal immigration law. She also described the policy as “patently unlawful.”
The judge said Congress had placed specific limits on the secretary of state’s authority over consular officers who process immigrant visa applications.
As a result, the ruling could reopen the path for Pakistani applicants seeking U.S. immigrant visas. However, the policy could remain subject to further court proceedings or an appeal.
The suspension affected applicants from 75 countries across several regions. Besides Pakistan, the list included Bangladesh and other South Asian countries.
It also covered countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Balkans. Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia and Albania were among the affected countries.
The State Department had defended the policy by arguing that applicants from the designated countries faced a higher risk of becoming a “public charge” and relying on government assistance in the United States.
However, the department had not immediately commented on the ruling.
The court issued the decision after immigrant rights groups and affected applicants challenged the policy.
The plaintiffs included the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together. They also included immigrant visa applicants and U.S. citizens sponsoring family members from the affected countries.
The plaintiffs argued that the administration could not suspend immigrant visa processing solely on the basis of nationality.
Vargas, who was appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, ruled in favour of the challengers.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has pursued a broad immigration crackdown since returning to office.
The administration has argued that stricter immigration measures will strengthen U.S. national security and protect domestic interests.
Rights groups, however, have accused the administration of undermining due process and free speech protections. They have also warned that its policies have created a more hostile environment for immigrants and ethnic minorities.
The latest ruling marks another legal setback for the administration’s immigration agenda.
For Pakistani applicants, the decision could provide a potential route forward for immigrant visa processing. However, its practical impact will depend on any appeal or further orders from the courts.
