New York (HRNW)- A US federal court has ruled that the Trump administration’s policy suspending immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan, was unlawful.
According to a global news agency, a New York district judge ruled that the US State Department exceeded the legal authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The court found that the policy introduced in January was inconsistent with federal immigration law and could not be upheld.
The judge said an administrative decision could not be used to block immigrant visa processing on such a broad scale, ruling that the Trump administration had exceeded the limits of federal immigration law.
The decision lifts the broad suspension affecting citizens of 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Russia. The Trump administration had halted processing of immigrant visa applications from these countries, arguing that some immigrants could potentially become a public burden in the United States.
The case was brought by organizations advocating for immigrant rights. Neither President Donald Trump nor the US State Department had immediately commented on the ruling.
Support humanitarian and community relief efforts. Donate to HRNW
