A US federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s policy suspending the processing of immigrant visas for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled that the policy was contrary to federal immigration law and exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The suspension, introduced in January 2026, affected applicants from Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as countries across Latin America, the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
The Trump administration had argued that applicants from the targeted countries were considered at higher risk of becoming dependent on public assistance in the United States. The court, however, found that a blanket restriction based on nationality was inconsistent with the legal framework governing immigrant visa decisions.
The ruling followed a lawsuit brought by immigrant-rights organizations, affected visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members from the targeted countries.
The decision clears the legal path for immigrant visa processing for applicants from Pakistan and the other affected countries to resume, although the timing and practical implementation remain to be seen.
Important: The ruling concerns the suspension of immigrant visa processing. It does not mean that all US visa restrictions for these countries, including tourist or student visas, have been removed.
