- Trump’s visa freeze for 75 nations hits a legal brick wall in New York.
- Civil rights groups sue US State Dept to save decades of immigration law.
- Pakistan among dozens of countries fighting Trump’s Jan 21 visa ban.
The Trump administration is facing a significant legal hurdle as civil rights organizations have moved to the courts to block the recent suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 nations, including Pakistan. A coalition of advocacy groups filed the lawsuit in a New York federal court, targeting the U.S. Department of State’s recent executive directives.
Legal Action Against the State Department
The lawsuit, initiated by a group of prominent civil rights organizations, asserts that the current administration’s move to halt visa processing is a direct violation of established federal statutes. The petitioners argue that the U.S. Department of State has overstepped its constitutional and legal bounds by unilaterally freezing the immigration pipeline for millions of potential applicants from across the globe. By filing the case in New York, the groups aim to secure a nationwide injunction that would force embassies and consulates to resume normal operations immediately.
Impact on Pakistan and Global Applicants
Pakistan is among the most prominent countries affected by the suspension, which took effect on January 21. The policy impacts a diverse range of nations, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, and Bosnia. Thousands of families in Pakistan, who were in the final stages of their green card or family reunification processes, have seen their hopes put on indefinite hold. The legal challenge highlights that these individuals have often spent years and thousands of dollars navigating the legal immigration system, only to be blocked by a sudden change in policy.
Contradiction of Immigration Precedents
The core of the legal argument rests on the claim that the Trump administration’s policy undermines decades of stable U.S. immigration law. Advocates state that the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act was designed to provide a predictable framework for legal migration, which cannot be discarded without sufficient legal justification or legislative change. The lawsuit claims that the suspension is arbitrary and lacks the necessary procedural transparency required for such high-impact administrative decisions.
Urgent Demand for Court Intervention
The petitioners are requesting the court to declare the visa processing suspension illegal and to issue an immediate stay. They emphasize that every day the policy remains in place, families are kept apart and professional opportunities are lost. The legal team representing the civil rights groups has expressed confidence that the judicial system will recognize the harm being caused to the integrity of the American immigration system. As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the New York federal court for a preliminary ruling that could determine the fate of thousands of visa applicants worldwide.