US court halts immigrant visa suspension policy affecting Pakistan, 74 other nations

US court halts immigrant visa suspension policy affecting Pakistan, 74 other nations.

Key points

• US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan remarked the policy that the State Department unveiled in January was "patently unlawful" and ran afoul of federal immigration law.
• Imran Khan sent back to Adiala jail after medical check-up at Shifa International Hospital.
• President Donald Trump has pursued an aggressive immigration crackdown that he notes is aimed at improving domestic security.
• Imran Khan taken back to jail after doctors declare him 'medically fit' at Pims: minister.
• "The Policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme, " she wrote.

Judge notes immigrant visa suspension policy is "patently unlawful" and violates federal immigration law. Judge notes policy exceeds Secretary Rubio's statutory authority. Court rules nationality-based visa restrictions violate federal law. State Dept suspension affects applicants throughout a number of regions.

Notably, a US judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, saying that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statutory authority.

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan remarked the policy that the State Department unveiled in January was "patently unlawful" and ran afoul of federal immigration law. It explicitly stripped the secretary of state of authority over consular officers' processing of immigrant visas.

For context, the State Department's suspension that additionally took effect in January impacted applicants from Latin American countries including Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay; Balkan nations such as Bosnia and Albania; South Asian countries Pakistan and Bangladesh; and those from numerous nations in Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

Notably, the State Department remarked applicants from those countries were "at a high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States." The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.

Vargas, an appointee of Democratic former president Joe Biden, issued the ruling in a lawsuit filed by immigrant rights groups Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together along with applicants for immigrant visas and US citizens who are sponsoring family members from the designated countries for immigrant visas.

Rights groups ⁠say the crackdown has violated free speech and due process rights and has created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities. This person have triggered concern regarding racial profiling. Govt declares public holiday on August 26 for Eid Milad un Nabi.

PTI decries 'violation' of Supreme Court order on Imran Khan's medical checkup. At least 21, 951 Pakistanis deported from Gulf states by March 1, NA informed. At least six killed in Mastung's Khad Kocha explosion: police.

Imran Khan taken back to jail after doctors declare him 'medically fit' at Pims: minister. Foreign-backed 'inimical designs' will be defeated via decisive response, vows CDF.

Imran Khan sent back to Adiala jail after medical check-up at Shifa International Hospital. Fazl announces 'united opposition' after session Achakzai, Qaiser.

For now, US court halts immigrant visa suspension policy affecting Pakistan, 74 other nations remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.