Civil Rights Groups Sue Trump Admin Over Immigrant Visa Freeze

A coalition of civil rights organisations has filed a lawsuit against the State Department over its recent pause on processing immigrant visas for citizens from 75 countries, arguing that the policy "eviscerates decades of settled immigration law."

Filed in federal court in Manhattan on Monday, the lawsuit seeks a court order to block the policy, which came into effect on January 21. The complaint claims the policy is "based on an unsupported and demonstrably false assertion that nationals of the covered countries migrate to the United States to improperly rely on cash welfare and are likely to become 'public charges.”

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said: "A visa is a privilege, not a right. The policy prevents billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse. The Department is pausing issuance to evaluate and enhance screening and vetting procedures – but we will never stop prioritising American citizens."

The lawsuit, brought by the National Immigration Law Center and other organisations, represents a range of plaintiffs, including US citizens separated from family members by the policy, and an endocrinologist from Colombia who was approved for an employment-based visa but cannot receive it.

The pause has affected applicants from Latin America, including Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay; Balkan countries such as Bosnia and Albania; South Asian nations including Pakistan and Bangladesh; and multiple countries across Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

The policy does not affect US visitor visas, which have been in focus as the country prepares to host the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.

A State Department cable, seen by Reuters, stated that the Department is conducting a "full review" of all policies, regulations, and guidance to ensure "the highest level of screening and vetting" for visa applicants. The cable added that applicants from the 75 affected countries "are at a high risk of becoming a public charge and drawing on local, state and federal government resources in the United States."