New York Court Vacates 75-Country Visa Freeze

A federal judge in New York, U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, vacated the Trump-era policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries. She ruled the policy was unlawful and exceeded the secretary of state’s authority. The decision said the policy effectively imposed a nationality-based denial and deprived consular officers of their statutory role to assess eligibility on an individual basis. It requires the resumption of immigrant visa processing for those 75 countries and voids visa refusals based solely on nationality. Advocates for families argued the policy separated spouses, parents, and children and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. The ruling is described as a significant victory for the rule of law and immigrant-rights groups, though the government may appeal.