Judge Strikes Down Trump Visa Ban for 75 Countries

Judge Jeannette A. Vargas of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York struck down a Trump administration policy on Friday that suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. The policy, implemented in January, targeted nations across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, including U.S. allies such as Egypt and Jordan.

The administration justified the pause by claiming applicants from these nations were at high risk of becoming a public charge and a financial burden to Americans. However, Judge Vargas ruled the policy was patently unlawful and exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. She noted that federal law prohibits nationality-based discrimination in visa issuance and requires individualized assessments.

The ruling reverses visa denials based solely on the policy and may require the review of thousands of applications. The decision follows lawsuits filed by affected visa applicants, U.S. citizens, and immigrant rights groups, including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together.