US judge reinstates visas for 75 nations banned by Trump

A US federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration's policy suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries was unlawful, according to wire material <source f52f70e2-420>. The policy, introduced in January, was deemed "patently unlawful" by US District Judge Jeannette Vargas, who stated the decision exceeded the authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The lawsuit, brought by immigrant rights groups, applicants, and US citizens sponsoring family members from affected countries, challenged the nationality-based restrictions as conflicting with federal immigration law. The State Department's policy argued that individuals from the 75 countries had a higher risk of becoming a "public charge" and relying on government resources in the US.

The ruling, issued on August 21, comes in a case filed by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, among others. The policy affected countries across multiple regions, including Latin America, the Balkans, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. The immediate impact of the ruling on applicants from the covered countries will depend on the State Department's response and potential appeals by the administration.