US Court Blocks Trump Policy Suspending Immigrant Visas for Citizens of 75 Countries

DID Press: A US federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy suspending the issuance of immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, ruling that the measure was unlawful.

Janet Vargas, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not have the legal authority to block immigrant visa issuance based on applicants’ nationality. She said the policy conflicted with federal immigration law.

The policy, which took effect in January, affected citizens of several countries in South Asia, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay, along with countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Caribbean.

The U.S. State Department had previously argued that applicants from the affected countries could be at risk of becoming a “public charge” because of potential reliance on government-funded services.

The ruling followed legal challenges brought by immigrant-rights groups and several visa applicants. The Trump administration has pursued a series of restrictive immigration measures, arguing that they are necessary to strengthen U.S. national security and reduce pressure on public resources.

Afghanistan was also among the 75 countries affected by the policy. The State Department had suspended immigrant visa issuance for Afghan nationals beginning January 21, 2026.