US Judge Voids Trump Visa Ban Targeting 75 Nations Including Pakistan, Bangladesh
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
A US judge has invalidated a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, ruling it unlawful on jurisdictional grounds. The decision marks a significant setback to the White House's aggressive immigration enforcement agenda.
Key Points
- US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled the State Department's January suspension of immigrant visas was "patently unlawful"
- The policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority over consular visa processing under federal immigration law
- Affected nations included Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and numerous African, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean countries
- The State Department claimed affected applicants posed "high risk" of becoming public charges
- Vargas, a Biden appointee, issued the ruling in a lawsuit filed by Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together
Why It Matters
The ruling forces the State Department to resume visa processing for thousands of applicants from affected nations, directly challenging the Trump administration's core immigration strategy. Rights groups have argued the crackdown violated free speech and due process protections, while the administration maintains the measures are essential for domestic security .
The ruling forces the State Department to resume visa processing for thousands of applicants from affected nations, directly challenging the Trump administration's core immigration strategy. Rights groups have argued the crackdown violated free speech and due process protections, while the administration maintains the measures are essential for domestic security .