A federal court in the United States has ruled that the Trump administration's suspension of immigration visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Kazakhstan, was unlawful, according to infohub.kz.
Judge Jeannette Vargas of Manhattan issued the ruling, stating that the State Department's policy was "clearly unlawful." She also found that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority under the law.
The restrictions had been in effect since January 21, 2026, when the State Department fully suspended the issuance of immigration visas to citizens of 75 countries that U.S. authorities deemed to pose a high risk of seeking social benefits after moving to the United States. Kazakhstan was officially on that list.
The restrictions also affected Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and Moldova. In total, the decision impacted countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
"A policy that categorically denies immigration visas based on an applicant's nationality directly violates the statutory system," the court's ruling stated.
For Kazakhstani citizens, this decision is significant because it concerns immigration visas, which are required for permanent residence in the United States. The January restrictions did not apply to regular tourist visas.
The lawsuit against the State Department's policy was filed by human rights organizations, immigration visa applicants, and U.S. citizens who were sponsoring the relocation of their relatives.
In 2026, U.S. visa policy became notably stricter. However, the court's decision on the 75 countries should not be confused with separate entry and visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on citizens of certain countries for national security reasons.