New York Court Finds 75-Country Visa Freeze Unlawful

A federal judge in Manhattan, U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, struck down the Trump administration policy suspending immigrant visas for nationals from 75 countries, finding it unlawful and beyond the Secretary of State's authority. The court ruled the policy violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by prohibiting visas based on nationality and circumventing required consular processing. The suspension, effective January, affected applicants from regions including Latin America, the Balkans, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, citing risks of public charge. The ruling was issued in a lawsuit brought by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, African Communities Together, and visa applicants and sponsors. Rights groups and immigrant advocates criticized the crackdown as discriminatory and harmful to families, while President Donald Trump has framed immigration actions as security measures. The department had not immediately commented on the ruling, and the decision vacates the directive under the Administrative Procedure Act.