Judge Invalidates Trump Policy Halting Immigrant Visas for 75 Countries

Overview

• A U.S. federal judge in New York concluded the administration’s directive to suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries exceeded the Secretary of State’s legal authority and violated federal law.
• The ruling requires consular decisions that relied only on an applicant’s country of origin to be revoked and demands individualized reviews of immigrant visa eligibility.
• The policy targeted immigrant visas that lead to lawful permanent residence and had instructed consular officers to refuse visas even when applicants met other requirements.
• The government may appeal the decision, so how quickly consulates reopen or review past denials will depend on further litigation and on how the State Department implements the ruling.
• The case fits a pattern of courts checking the administration’s tougher immigration measures and could force thousands of past denials to be reexamined, affecting families and workers separated by the policy.