Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York in Manhattan delivered the ruling on Friday, finding that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not have the legal authority to impose the visa restrictions.
Vargas held that the policy, which prevented the issuance of immigrant visas based solely on applicants’ nationalities, was inconsistent with the statutory framework governing U.S. immigration.
The decision comes after the U.S. government suspended immigrant visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries earlier this year. The measure took effect on January 21 and affected countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and other regions.
The U.S. Department of State had defended the suspension, saying it was intended to give the government time to review its immigration procedures and reduce the possibility of admitting foreign nationals who could become reliant on welfare and other public assistance.
The visa restrictions formed part of Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which was a major issue during his 2024 presidential campaign and remained a key focus following his return to the White House.
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