US judge strikes down immigrant visa suspension affecting Pakistan, 74 other countries

A US judge has struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan.

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled the measure exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority.

Why did the judge strike down the visa suspension?

Judge Vargas ruled the visa suspension was patently unlawful because it violated federal immigration law, which limits the secretary of state's authority over consular officers processing immigrant visas. She said the policy's blanket ban based on nationality directly abrogated that statutory scheme. The ruling applies to applicants from all 75 affected countries, including Pakistan.

"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," she wrote.

Which countries were affected by the visa suspension?

The suspension, which took effect in January, affected applicants from Latin American countries including Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. It also covered Balkan nations such as Bosnia and Albania, South Asian countries Pakistan and Bangladesh, and many countries across Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The State Department has not detailed a full country-by-country breakdown beyond these regional groupings.

Why did the State Department suspend these visas?

The State Department said applicants from the affected countries were at high risk of becoming a public charge and relying on local, state and federal government resources in the United States.

The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling. The policy was announced in January.

Who brought the lawsuit against the visa ban?

Judge Vargas, appointed by Democratic former President Joe Biden, issued the ruling in a lawsuit brought by immigrant rights groups Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together.

The plaintiffs also included immigrant visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members from the designated countries. The case challenged the policy's legality under federal immigration law.

How does this fit into Trump's wider immigration policy?

President Donald Trump has pursued an aggressive immigration crackdown that he says is aimed at improving domestic security. Rights groups say the crackdown has violated free speech and due process rights and created an unsafe environment. They have particularly raised concerns about racial profiling affecting ethnic minorities.