State Department and Marco Rubio sued over visa pause for 75 countries

A coalition of immigration groups, lawyers and US citizens filed a federal lawsuit in New York challenging a State Department order that paused immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, saying the move is discriminatory and lacks legal authority.

An alliance of immigration groups, lawyers and some US citizens has filed a lawsuit against the State Department and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an order that paused immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries. The suit was filed in a US district court in New York and asks the court to overturn the pause. The department announced the pause last month and said it was reviewing policies to prevent new immigrants from becoming public charges. Plaintiffs say the action exceeds legal authority and discriminates by nationality. Known details: - The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York by a coalition that includes the National Immigration Law Center and the Center for Constitutional Rights. - It challenges a State Department order that paused immigrant visa approvals for nationals of 75 countries and names Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a defendant. - Plaintiffs say the department's "public charge" justification is unsupported and that the pause prevents individualized, case-by-case visa adjudication required by law. - Individual plaintiffs include an approved applicant whose employment visa was suspended and US citizens who say they are separated from family members because visa processing was paused. Summary: The suit argues the pause has effectively blocked a large share of immigrant visa applications and relies on nationality rather than individual review. The State Department described the action as part of a review to ensure immigrants are financially self-sufficient; plaintiffs say that claim is false. The matter is now before a federal court in New York; further court dates or rulings are undetermined at this time.