India, Aug. 22 -- A US federal judge has struck down the Trump administration's policy suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, ruling that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his legal authority when the State Department introduced the nationality-based restrictions.

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan issued the ruling Friday, August 21, saying the policy conflicted with federal immigration law. The decision came in a lawsuit brought by immigrant rights groups, immigrant visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members from affected countries.

The State Department introduced the suspension in January, blocking the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries. The admin...