A federal judge has struck down a Trump Administration policy that halted the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from dozens of countries.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan ruled that the policy violated federal immigration law. According to Reuters, Vargas said the policy improperly gave Secretary of State Marco Rubio authority over how consular officers handle immigrant visa applications,reported Reuters.
"The Policy, which categorically prohibits the issuance of immigrant visas based upon the nationality of the applicant, represents a direct abrogation of this statutory scheme," Vargas wrote in her ruling.
On Jan. 21, 2026, the Department of State paused all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals
of a long list of countries, including Brazil, Columbia, Morocco, Pakistan, and more.
"The Department of State is undergoing a full review of all screening and vetting policies to ensure that immigrants from high-risk countries do not unlawfully utilize welfare in the United States or become a public charge," the Department of Statewrote on its website.
The department has not immediately responded to the ruling, Reuters reported.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Federal judge strikes down Trump's visa ban for 75 countries
