Trump's 75-country visa ban struck down by US judge

A US federal judge has ruled against a government ban restricting visas for nationals from 75 countries, challenging President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York deemed the policy "contrary to law" and claimed Secretary of State Marco Rubio overstepped his statutory authority in implementing it.

The ban, enacted in January, suspended the processing of immigrant visas for individuals from countries including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand, and Yemen. The State Department claimed the decision aimed to prevent immigrants from high-risk nations from unlawfully using welfare benefits or becoming public charges.

However, Vargas determined that consular officers were improperly instructed to reject visa applications solely based on an applicant's country of origin, regardless of their individual qualifications. The ruling nullifies any visa denials made under this policy, and the government has the option to appeal the decision. Trump had promised to address immigration reform during his presidential campaign and has since implemented various measures to expedite deportations and curtail border crossings.