US Judge Blocks Visa Ban Covering Nationals From 75 Countries

WASHINGTON: (News Desk) – A US federal judge has struck down a government policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown.

In a ruling issued Friday in the Southern District of New York, Judge Jeannette Vargas found the policy to be contrary to law and ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his statutory authority in implementing the measure.

The policy, introduced in January, halted the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand and Yemen.

The State Department had defended the measure by arguing that it was intended to prevent immigrants from high-risk countries from improperly accessing US welfare programs or becoming a public charge.

However, Vargas ruled that consular officials had been improperly directed to reject immigrant visa applications solely because of an applicant’s country of origin, even when the applicants otherwise met the legal requirements.

The judge’s decision vacates visa denials that were based exclusively on the disputed policy.

The US government can appeal the ruling, leaving the future of the visa restrictions subject to further legal proceedings.

Trump campaigned for the presidency on promises to remove millions of undocumented migrants from the United States. Since returning to the White House, his administration has introduced a series of measures aimed at accelerating deportations and reducing illegal border crossings.