US Judge Blocks Trump’s Immigrant Visa Freeze Affecting Pakistan, Bangladesh and 73 Other Countries

A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh. The court ruled that the policy exceeded the legal authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and violated the statutory framework governing immigrant visa processing.

The ruling came after the visa suspension, announced by the US State Department in January, affected applicants from countries across South Asia, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Balkans.

Judge Calls Visa Suspension 'Patently Unlawful'

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled on Friday that the policy was "patently unlawful" and that the State Department could not impose a blanket suspension on immigrant visas based solely on an applicant's nationality.

According to the ruling, federal immigration law limits the authority of the secretary of state over the processing of immigrant visas by consular officers.

The judge said the policy effectively bypassed the immigration system established by Congress by categorically preventing applicants from designated countries from receiving immigrant visas.

Which Countries Were Affected?

The suspension covered applicants from 75 countries. Among those affected were Pakistan and Bangladesh in South Asia.

The list also included countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in Latin America, along with Bosnia and Albania in the Balkans. Several countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean were also affected.

The State Department had justified the suspension by arguing that applicants from the designated countries faced a higher risk of becoming dependent on government resources in the United States.

Lawsuit Filed by Immigrant Rights Groups

The policy was challenged by immigrant rights organisations, including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together.

The lawsuit was also backed by immigrant visa applicants and US citizens who were sponsoring family members from the affected countries.

The plaintiffs argued that the blanket suspension unlawfully disrupted the immigration process and prevented eligible applicants from moving forward with their visa applications.

Trump Administration's Immigration Crackdown Faces Legal Challenge

The ruling marks another legal setback for the Trump administration's broader immigration crackdown.

President Donald Trump has defended tougher immigration policies as necessary to strengthen domestic security. However, immigrant rights groups have argued that some measures violate due process and civil liberties and could disproportionately affect ethnic minorities.

The State Department had not immediately responded to requests for comment following the ruling.

The decision could provide relief to thousands of immigrant visa applicants whose cases were affected by the suspension, although the Trump administration could still challenge the ruling through the appeals process.