U.S. judge strikes down immigrant visa suspension covering 75 countries

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan declared the policy suspending immigrant visa processing for 75 nations unlawful, stating it contravened federal immigration law which has stripped the secretary of state of authority over consular officers processing such visas. The policy, announced by the State Department in January, barred the issuance of immigrant visas based on the applicant's nationality, directly violating this statutory scheme, Vargas wrote.

The suspension affected applicants from countries in Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and many African, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean nations. The State Department had claimed these applicants were at high risk of becoming a public charge and requiring recourse to local, state, and federal government resources in the United States.

The department declined to comment on the ruling. Vargas, appointed by former President Joe Biden, ruled in a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups Catholic Legal Immigration Network, African Communities Together, and individuals seeking immigrant visas and U.S. citizens sponsoring family members from the designated countries.

While President Donald Trump has implemented tough immigration measures claiming they enhance domestic security, rights groups argue these actions infringe on free speech and due process rights, creating unsafe environments especially for ethnic minorities, who expressed concerns about racial profiling.