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

A US judge ruled on Friday that a Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visa issuance from 75 countries, including Pakistan, was unlawful and exceeded the authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan stated that the State Department's decision, announced in January, directly violated federal immigration law by disregarding the statutory separation of powers between consular officers and the secretary of state.

The policy, which halted visa processing based solely on nationality, targeted applicants from diverse regions such as Latin America, the Balkans, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. While the State Department had cited concerns about applicants becoming "public charges," the judge dismissed these arguments, emphasizing the legislative intent to limit the secretary of state's control over consular processing.

The ruling, issued by Vargas, a Biden administration appointee, came in response to a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights organizations and affected individuals, challenging the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement measures. Despite the administration's claims of enhancing national security, rights groups argued that the policy infringed upon free speech, due process rights, and created an unsafe atmosphere, particularly for minority communities concerned about racial profiling. The State Department did not immediately comment on the ruling.