Human rights advocates argue that this measure is illegal and violates existing immigration laws.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court after the State Department announced in January the freeze on processing immigration visas for the mentioned countries. The plaintiffs claim that this policy is based on unproven assumptions that migrants allegedly create a financial burden on the U.S. social system.
“The restrictions only apply to immigration visas that grant the right to permanent residency in the country. Although the submission of documents and interviews are theoretically available, in practice, visas are not issued until the procedure is reviewed,” the statement reads.
The applicants insist that this decision exceeds the powers of the executive branch and contradicts immigration and nationality laws. The lawsuit emphasizes that most categories of immigrants are not entitled to receive public benefits in the first years of living in the U.S.
U.S. authorities have previously stated that these measures are aimed at strengthening control over the entry of citizens from countries considered high-risk in terms of financial burden on the budget. The restrictions will remain in effect until additional guarantees of financial independence for arrivals are established.
The plaintiffs demand that this policy be declared illegal and that the normal visa issuance process be restored. As of now, the official position of the defendants in court has not been announced.
