US judge strikes down policy suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 nations, including Pakistan

A U.S. judge has struck down a Trump-era policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to individuals from 75 nations, including Pakistan. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled on Friday that the policy, announced by the State Department in January, exceeded the statutory authority of the Secretary of State and was "patently unlawful."

The judge found that the policy violated federal immigration law, which specifically limits the Secretary of State's authority over consular officers processing immigrant visas. "The policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme," Vargas wrote in her decision.

The suspended policy affected applicants from various regions, including Latin America, the Balkans, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. The State Department had justified the suspension by stating that applicants from these countries posed a "high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States."

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups, including Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, alongside visa applicants and U.S. citizens sponsoring family members. This decision challenges the broader immigration crackdown pursued by former President Donald Trump, which critics argue has infringed upon free speech, due process rights, and created a climate of fear, particularly for ethnic minorities concerned about racial profiling.

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The policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme.