Human rights lawyers are accusing the government of illegal discrimination and violations of immigration laws.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court after the Department of State announced a freeze on processing immigration visas for the specified countries in January. The plaintiffs argue that this policy is based on unproven assumptions that migrants allegedly create a financial burden on U.S. social services.
“Although the submission of documents and interviews are still possible, visas for permanent residence in the country are temporarily not being issued until the current procedure is reviewed,” the case materials state.
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The U.S. has suspended visa processing for 75 countries. Kyrgyzstan is on this list.
The applicants claim that the decision exceeds the powers of the executive branch and contradicts the Immigration and Nationality Act. The lawsuit emphasizes that many categories of immigrants cannot qualify for public assistance in the first years of living in the U.S.
U.S. authorities have previously stated that such measures are aimed at strengthening control over the entry of citizens from countries considered to be at higher risk in terms of potential financial burden on the budget. The restrictions will remain in place until additional guarantees of financial independence for newcomers are provided.
The plaintiffs are demanding that the current policy be declared illegal and that the authorities be compelled to resume visa issuance in the usual manner. As of now, the official position of the defendants in the case has not been presented in court.
