A US federal judge strikes down a Trump administration policy that suspends immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan. The ruling comes from US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan, who says the policy is unlawful and that the State Department exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Vargas rules that consular officers are improperly instructed to refuse or halt visa processing solely based on an applicant’s nationality, even if other eligibility requirements are met. She cites federal immigration law, which she says removes authority from the secretary of state to direct consular officers’ immigrant visa processing in that way. The decision vacates visa denials made solely under the policy.
Outlets describe the same January policy and its broad geographic scope, naming countries across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the Balkans and parts of South and Southeast Asia, including Pakistan and Thailand. The State Department previously said the suspension targeted applicants from “high-risk” countries that may become a “public charge” or rely on government resources. The government can appeal, and outlets also note the ruling is part of litigation brought by immigrant rights groups and affected applicants.
