Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Immigrant Visa Suspension Affecting 75 Countries

A federal judge in New York has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, ruling that the policy was unlawful and conflicted with federal immigration law.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York issued the ruling Friday, finding that the blanket suspension of immigrant visas based on nationality violated the existing legal framework.

The case was brought by immigrant rights organizations, immigrant visa applicants and U.S. citizens seeking to bring family members to the United States from affected countries.

The policy, which took effect in January, covered nationals of several countries, including Bangladesh and Pakistan in South Asia, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in Latin America, and Bosnia and Albania in the Balkans. It also affected countries across Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

Judge Vargas said the administration could not completely halt immigrant visa issuance to nationals of specific countries in a manner that conflicted with federal immigration law.

The ruling represents a setback for President Donald Trump’s broader immigration restrictions during his second term. The administration has argued that its immigration measures are aimed at strengthening U.S. national security.

The U.S. State Department had not immediately commented on the ruling.