US Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration's Immigrant Visa Ban For 75 Nations

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas in Manhattan struck down a Trump administration policy on Friday, August 21, 2026, that suspended immigrant visas for 75 countries. The decision was reported by Reuters.

Judge Vargas ruled the January policy was "patently unlawful", Reuters reported. The ruling determined the policy exceeded the statutory authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio by violating federal immigration law. This specific legislation strips the secretary of authority over consular officers' visa processing.

She wrote in her decision, according to 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."

Impacted Nations And Justification

The policy, implemented in January, targeted applicants from Latin American countries including Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. It also affected Balkan nations such as Bosnia and Albania, South Asian countries Pakistan and Bangladesh and nations across Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

The US State Department justified the ban. It stated to Reuters that applicants from these 75 nations were "at a high risk for becoming a public charge and recourse to local, state and federal government resources in the United States".

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Judge Vargas's ruling.

Lawsuit Details And Backlash

The lawsuit was brought by immigrant rights groups Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, alongside individual visa applicants and sponsoring US citizens.

US District Judge Jeannette Vargas, who issued the decision, is an appointee of Democratic former President Joe Biden.

The ruling represents a major setback to President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown, which he says is aimed at improving domestic security. Rights groups argue the crackdown violates free speech and due process while raising serious concerns about racial profiling, particularly for ethnic minorities.