A federal judge has struck down a Trump administration policy that halted the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 nations.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled in Manhattan that the measure violated federal immigration law. According to Reuters, Vargas determined that the policy improperly gave Secretary of State Marco Rubio control over decisions that legally belong to consular officers.
”The Policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme,” Vargas wrote in her ruling.
The federal directive went into effect on Jan. 21, 2026, pausing all immigrant visa issuances for nationals from a wide range of targeted countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Morocco, and Pakistan.
The State Department defended the freeze on its website, explaining that it had launched a comprehensive review of screening procedures. Officials stated the goal was to ensure immigrants from high-risk areas do not unlawfully draw on U.S. welfare programs or become a public charge.
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