Shibbir Ahmed, New York: A federal court in New York has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of Bangladesh and 74 other countries. The court ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his legal authority in imposing the policy.

In a ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas, the court said suspending immigrant visa issuance based solely on an applicant’s nationality conflicted with federal immigration law. The lawsuit was brought by immigrant rights organizations, affected visa applicants and a group of U.S. citizens.

Visa Issuance Suspended in January

The State Department suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries beginning Jan. 21. The list included Bangladesh as well as countries across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The State Department said the policy was based on concerns that applicants from the affected countries could be at greater risk of becoming dependent on U.S. public benefits. The department said the suspension was intended to allow a review of immigrant visa policies.

Important Ruling for Bangladeshis

Because Bangladesh was among the 75 countries affected by the policy, the court's decision is particularly significant for Bangladeshi applicants seeking immigrant visas to the United States. It remains unclear how and when the State Department will resume processing immigrant visa applications that were affected by the suspension. The department's next steps following the court ruling will therefore be closely watched. According to current State Department information, the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka processes immigrant visa applications for Bangladeshi nationals.

Not a Suspension of All Visas

The court's decision should not be interpreted as the lifting of a broad visa ban covering all types of U.S. visas. The January policy applied specifically to immigrant visa issuance. Nonimmigrant visas—including tourist, business and student visas—were not covered by this particular suspension.

The key questions now are whether the Trump administration will appeal the ruling and how the State Department will handle immigrant visa applications that were placed on hold under the policy. According to Reuters, the State Department did not immediately comment on the court's ruling.