A US federal judge has blocked a major policy that stopped immigrant visas for people from 75 countries, including Pakistan. The ruling came on Friday from US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan. She called the policy patently unlawful and said it clearly breaks federal immigration law.
The State Department introduced the suspension in January under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It stopped consular officers from issuing immigrant visas to applicants from a long list of nations. Those countries included Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and many others across Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Officials claimed people from these places faced a high risk of becoming a public charge and relying on government resources in the United States.
Judge Vargas ruled that the policy went far beyond the Secretary’s legal powers. Federal law specifically removes the Secretary of State’s control over how consular officers handle immigrant visa applications. By banning visas based solely on nationality, the policy directly ignored that legal structure. The judge, appointed by former President Joe Biden, made it clear the action could not stand.
Immigrant rights groups filed the lawsuit that led to this decision. Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together joined individual visa applicants and US citizens who were trying to bring family members from the affected countries. They argued the blanket suspension was illegal and unfair.
President Donald Trump’s administration has pushed a tough immigration approach focused on national security. Supporters say the measures protect American resources and safety. Critics, including the groups in this case, claim such policies often harm due process and create fear, especially among ethnic minorities who worry about profiling.
The State Department has not yet issued a public response to the court decision. For now, the ruling means the nationality based suspension cannot continue. Consular officers must return to normal processing rules for immigrant visas from the listed countries. Many families who faced sudden barriers may now see their applications move forward again under existing federal law.
This case highlights ongoing tension between executive immigration actions and the limits set by Congress. Courts continue to review how far administration policies can go when they target specific nationalities.
