A federal judge in New York has overturned the Trump administration’s policy barring immigrant visas for people from 75 countries, calling it illegal discrimination. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled Friday that the ban violated the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which prohibits visa decisions based solely on nationality.
The policy, announced earlier this year, targeted citizens of Afghanistan, Brazil, Yemen and dozens of others, claiming they were likely to need public assistance. Judge Vargas found the State Department had no legal authority to implement such a blanket restriction, even for applicants already approved by consular officers. The ruling vacated the ban and set aside visa denials tied only to the policy.
The State Department defended the ban as part of broader efforts to limit immigration, but the judge rejected its legal basis. Plaintiffs, including immigrant advocacy groups and affected families, hailed the decision as a return to fair, case-by-case review. Their lawyers said it allows families separated by the policy to resume legal immigration processes.
