A US federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s policy suspending the processing and issuance of immigrant visas to nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria.
US District Judge Jeannette Vargas delivered the ruling on Friday, describing the January directive by the State Department as unlawful and beyond the authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The policy, which took effect on January 21, suspended immigrant visa processing for citizens of the affected countries on the grounds that they were considered at high risk of becoming a public charge by relying on government assistance in the United States.
In her ruling, Vargas said the policy unlawfully prevented the issuance of immigrant visas based solely on applicants’ nationalities.
She held that the State Department lacked the statutory authority to impose such a blanket suspension.
The case was brought by immigrant rights organisations, including the Catholic Legal Immigration Network and African Communities Together, alongside US citizens sponsoring relatives and visa applicants from affected countries.
The State Department had directed US consular officers in January to suspend the processing of certain applicants while the government reviewed its immigration procedures.
The administration argued that the measure was necessary to strengthen screening and prevent immigrants from relying on US welfare programmes.
The affected countries include Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda and others.
The ruling represents a setback for President Donald Trump’s broader immigration policies, which have focused on tightening entry requirements and reducing reliance on public assistance by immigrants.
