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NewsWSVN 7 MiamiAugust 23, 2026Miami-Dade

Federal judge vacates Trump administration policy suspending visa processing for 75 countries

A federal judge has struck down a policy that halted immigrant visa processing for nationals from 75 countries deemed likely to require public assistance. The court ruled the policy exceeded statutory authority and unlawfully bypassed the discretion of consular officers.

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Why It Matters

The ruling removes a categorical ban on visa applications for nationals from 75 countries, potentially allowing previously blocked family reunification and employment-based immigration processes to resume.

Key Facts

  • A federal judge vacated a policy that suspended visa processing for nationals from 75 countries.
  • The court ruled the policy was contrary to law and exceeded statutory authority.
  • The policy mandated visa refusals without individual review, which the judge stated violated the Immigration and Nationality Act.
  • Consular officers are now restored to their role of determining visa eligibility based on specific statutory criteria.
  • The lawsuit was brought by two nonprofit organizations and 11 individual plaintiffs.
  • The State Department previously justified the policy by citing data suggesting 30 percent of households from these countries received public assistance.
  • The ruling follows a separate June court decision that struck down other Trump administration immigration restrictions.
  • The State Department stated it would not comment on pending litigation.

Who's Mentioned

personMarco Rubio“Secretary of State cited in the ruling”other11“Number of individual plaintiffs”other75“Number of countries affected by the visa suspension”organizationCLINIC“Nonprofit plaintiff in the lawsuit”organizationAfrican Communities Together“Nonprofit plaintiff in the lawsuit”personJeannette Vargas“U.S. District Judge who issued the ruling”personDonald Trump“Former President whose administration issued the policy”