Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration’s 75-Country Visa Ban

• by Shimanta Das
• August 24, 2026

In a significant legal setback for the Trump administration’s immigration agenda, a federal judge in Manhattan has struck down a policy that suspended immigrant visas for nationals from 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand, and Yemen. The ruling, issued on Friday by Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York, declared the policy “patently unlawful” and vacated it nationwide, reopening visa applications that had been refused solely based on nationality.

The policy, implemented by the State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio, had halted the issuance of immigrant visas for applicants from these countries who sought to settle permanently in the United States. Judge Vargas ruled that the suspension exceeded Secretary Rubio’s statutory authority, noting that federal immigration law explicitly strips the Secretary of State of power over consular officers’ adjudication of immigrant visas. The court found that the policy conflicted with existing immigration statutes, making it invalid.

This decision deals a blow to President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which has aimed to reduce both illegal and legal immigration. The administration had argued that the visa suspension was necessary to protect national security and public safety, but the judge’s ruling undermines that justification. The plaintiffs in the case, represented by the law firm Colombo & Hurd, included five individuals outside the U.S. who had filed employment-based petitions to enter the country. Their legal challenge highlighted the human impact of the policy, which had left many families and workers in limbo.

The ruling is a reminder of the checks and balances in the U.S. legal system, as courts continue to scrutinize executive actions on immigration. While the administration may appeal, the decision stands as a victory for immigrant rights advocates and a setback for the President’s efforts to tighten immigration policies. As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of thousands of visa applicants remains uncertain, but for now, the ban has been lifted, offering hope to those affected.