US Court Blocks Trump Policy Suspending Immigrant Visas for Citizens of 75 Countries

A US federal court has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, including Bangladesh.

US District Judge Janet Vargas in Manhattan ruled that the policy, announced by the State Department in January, was “clearly unlawful” and exceeded the authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The court said the policy conflicted with federal immigration law governing the processing of immigrant visas.

According to the ruling, the policy effectively blocked immigrant visa applications based on applicants’ nationality. The suspension affected applicants from countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia and Albania, as well as several nations in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

The State Department had argued that applicants from these countries were at a higher risk of becoming dependent on government benefits and placing additional pressure on local, state and federal resources.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed jointly by immigrant rights organizations, including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, along with affected visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members for immigrant visas.

Judge Vargas, who was appointed by former Democratic President Joe Biden, said the policy unlawfully restricted access to immigrant visas.

The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling.

President Donald Trump has continued to pursue stricter immigration policies, saying they are necessary to strengthen US national security. However, immigrant rights groups have criticized the measures, arguing that they undermine due process and create an increasingly hostile environment, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities.