US judge strikes down visa suspension for 75 nations
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
A U.S. judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups and affected applicants.
Key Facts
- U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled the policy 'patently unlawful' and beyond Secretary of State Marco Rubio's authority.
- The State Department announced the suspension in January, affecting applicants from 75 countries including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
- The lawsuit was filed by Catholic Legal Immigration Network, African Communities Together, immigrant visa applicants, and U.S. citizens sponsoring family members.
- The State Department justified the suspension by claiming applicants from those countries were at high risk of becoming public charges.
The Ruling
Judge Jeannette Vargas, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, issued the ruling in Manhattan federal court. She wrote that the policy 'represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme' because it categorically prohibits immigrant visas based on nationality. Federal immigration law explicitly strips the secretary of state of authority over consular officers' processing of immigrant visas. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.
Policy Impact
The suspension took effect in January and impacted applicants from Latin America, the Balkans, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. The State Department said applicants from the 75 countries were at high risk for becoming a public charge and using government resources. President Donald Trump has pursued an aggressive immigration crackdown aimed at improving domestic security. Rights groups say the crackdown has violated free speech and due process rights and created an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities.
4 sources
US judge strikes down visa suspension for 75 nations
