WASHINGTON: A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Russia. The ruling effectively challenges a policy introduced by the State Department in January 2026.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York ruled on Friday that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority. The judge also found that the measure conflicted with federal immigration law and could not lawfully impose a blanket restriction based on an applicant’s nationality.
The State Department had introduced the policy effective January 21, 2026, directing a pause in immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 designated countries. The administration said the move was aimed at applicants considered at high risk of becoming a public charge or relying on government assistance in the United States.
The affected countries included several nations from South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and other regions. Pakistan and Bangladesh were among the South Asian countries covered by the suspension, while Iran and Russia were also included on the State Department’s list.
The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by immigrant rights organisations, affected visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring relatives for immigration. The legal challenge argued that the government had unlawfully imposed a nationality-based suspension instead of carrying out the individual visa assessments required under federal law.
The court’s decision is significant for applicants from the 75 affected countries because it removes the legal basis for the broad suspension challenged in the case. However, other US immigration restrictions or separate visa requirements may continue to apply to individual applicants.
