Federal judge vacates Trump policy that suspended processing of immigration visas from 75 countries

A federal judge in New York has overturned a Trump administration policy that halted the processing of visas from 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose citizens were deemed likely to need public assistance in the United States. U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas declared the policy "unlawful and exceeding statutory authority" on Friday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued the policy, which the judge deemed "contrary to the Immigration and Nationality Act by mandating the denial of visas to eligible applicants without any legal basis." The policy undermined the role of congressional consular officers who have the exclusive authority and discretion to determine visa eligibility based on specific criteria set by the statute, Vargas noted.

The policy was contested by two nonprofit organizations and 11 individuals, six of whom had family members whose visas had been denied. The remaining five applicants reside outside the U.S. and had filed employment-based petitions. Advocates welcomed the ruling, emphasizing its significance in upholding family reunification and the rule of law.