US judge strikes down Trump visa suspension for 75 nations: Pakistan, Bangladesh among them

A US judge has struck down a Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled on Friday that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority and conflicted with federal immigration law, according to a Reuters report.

The State Department introduced the suspension in January, affecting applicants from countries across South Asia, Latin America, the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Among the affected countries were Pakistan and Bangladesh in South Asia; Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in Latin America; and Bosnia and Albania in the Balkans.

Applicants from several countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean were also covered by the suspension.

Judge calls policy ‘patently unlawful’

Vargas said the policy was “patently unlawful”, arguing that federal law did not give the secretary of state authority to impose a blanket restriction on consular officers processing immigrant visas.

The judge said the policy, which barred immigrant visa issuance based on an applicant’s nationality, conflicted with the statutory framework governing visa processing.

State Department defended suspension

The State Department had said applicants from the designated countries were at a “high risk” of becoming a public charge and relying on local, state and federal government resources in the US.

The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling, Reuters reported.

Lawsuit challenged Trump policy

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

The case also included immigrant visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members from countries covered by the suspension.

Ruling comes amid immigration crackdown

The decision comes as President Donald Trump pursues a sweeping immigration crackdown, which his administration says is aimed at strengthening domestic security, the report said.

Rights groups have criticised the measures, saying they have violated free speech and due process rights and raised concerns about racial profiling.

Separately, the State Department has begun firing more than 1,350 workers as part of the Trump administration’s broader shake-up of the diplomatic corps.