On August 22, a federal judge in New York ruled that the U.S. government’s ban on issuing immigration visas to citizens of 75 countries was unlawful. The decision overturned a measure introduced by former President Donald Trump’s administration.
Judge Jeannette Vargas found that then-U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his authority when implementing the visa suspension. In her ruling, she stated that the procedure for halting visa issuance was “clearly illegal” and violated American immigration law.
Vargas emphasized that denying visas based solely on nationality is inconsistent with legal procedures for reviewing immigration applications. The lawsuit challenging the ban was filed by human rights organizations, prospective immigrants seeking visas, and U.S. citizens who sponsor relatives from countries subject to restrictions.
The United States had initially suspended visa issuance for citizens of 75 nations in January, stating that the measures would remain until the government could confirm new immigrants would not use public funds for their own benefit.
