WASHINGTON: A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, in a ruling that could reopen a major pathway for affected applicants.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled on Friday that the policy exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conflicted with US federal immigration law. The judge described the policy as “patently unlawful.”
Pakistan Among 75 Countries Affected
The State Department introduced the suspension in January 2026, with the measure taking effect on January 21. It covered nationals of 75 countries across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, the Balkans and the Caribbean.
Pakistan was among the countries included in the policy. The suspension applied to immigrant visa issuance and was based on the US government’s assessment that applicants from the designated countries were at high risk of becoming dependent on public benefits in the United States.
The policy created uncertainty for people seeking to immigrate to the US through family-sponsored and other immigrant visa pathways.
Judge Says Policy Exceeded Legal Authority
Judge Vargas found that the State Department did not have the legal authority to impose a blanket restriction on immigrant visa processing based solely on an applicant’s nationality.
The ruling held that the policy conflicted with the statutory framework governing immigrant visas and improperly restricted the role of consular officers in processing individual applications.
The case was brought by immigrant rights organisations, affected visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring relatives from countries covered by the suspension.
What The Ruling Means For Pakistani Applicants
The ruling is significant for Pakistani nationals who were affected by the suspension because it removes the legal basis for the blanket pause challenged in the case.
However, the decision does not mean that every Pakistani applicant will automatically receive an immigrant visa. Individual applications still have to satisfy the normal requirements of US immigration law, including eligibility, documentation, security checks and consular processing.
The practical effect of the ruling will also depend on how the US government implements the decision and whether it seeks further legal review.
Broader Immigration Policy Battle
The decision represents another judicial challenge to the Trump administration’s broader immigration policies.
The administration had defended the 75-country suspension by arguing that it was intended to protect US taxpayers and reduce the likelihood that immigrants would become dependent on government assistance. The State Department had cited public-benefit usage concerns when announcing the policy.
Immigrant rights groups, meanwhile, challenged the policy on legal and procedural grounds, arguing that nationality alone could not justify a blanket suspension of immigrant visa issuance.
For Pakistani families with pending or planned US immigration cases, the ruling could therefore be an important development, although applicants should continue to follow official instructions from the US State Department and the relevant US embassy or consular post.
