A US federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan. The ruling was issued by US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan on August 21, 2026.
The State Department introduced the suspension in January 2026, saying applicants from the affected countries were considered at higher risk of becoming dependent on public assistance in the United States. The pause took effect on January 21 and covered countries across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and other regions.
Pakistan was among the countries included in the list, meaning Pakistani applicants seeking immigrant visas faced a halt in visa issuance. The policy did not apply to temporary non immigrant visas, such as tourist and business visas.
Judge Vargas ruled that the policy went beyond Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s legal authority and conflicted with US immigration law. She said the government could not impose a blanket ban on immigrant visa issuance based on applicants’ nationality.
The decision provides relief to affected applicants, including Pakistanis, although the US government could challenge the ruling. The State Department has not yet publicly commented on the decision.
