US Judge Strikes Down Policy Halting Issuance of Immigrant Visas for Citizens of 75 Countries - Sarmad
A U.S. judge has struck down a policy of the Donald Trump administration that restricted the issuance of immigration visas to applicants from 75 countries, stating that the policy exceeds the legal authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Judge Janet Fargus of the Manhattan Federal District Court ruled that the policy announced by the State Department in January is “clearly unlawful” and conflicts with federal immigration law, which explicitly strips the Secretary of State of authority over consular officers’ procedures regarding immigration visas.
She wrote, “This policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigration visas based on the applicant’s nationality, constitutes a direct nullification of this statutory framework.”
The State Department’s suspension of visa issuance, which also took effect in January, affected applicants from Latin American countries—including Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay; Balkan nations such as Bosnia and Albania; South Asian countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh; as well as several countries in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean region.
The State Department stated that applicants from those countries are “highly likely to become a public charge” and to rely on resources from local, state, and federal governments in the United States.
The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.
Judge Fargus, appointed by former President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party, issued the ruling in a lawsuit filed by two immigrant rights organizations—the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and Communities of Africa Together—alongside visa applicants and U.S. citizens sponsoring family members from the designated countries for immigration visas.
Trump has pursued a strict immigration policy, which he says aims to enhance domestic security.
Human rights groups argue that this campaign has violated freedom of expression and due process rights, creating an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities who have expressed concerns about racial discrimination.
