23rd August 2026 – (New York) A major immigration restriction introduced by the administration of President Donald Trump has been struck down by a US federal judge in New York, marking a significant challenge to the White House’s efforts to tighten entry requirements. In a ruling delivered on Friday at the Southern District of New York, Judge Jeannette Vargas described the country-of-origin visa ban, imposed earlier this year, as unlawful. Judge Vargas ruled that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his statutory limits in enacting the policy, stating it contravened existing legal frameworks.
The visa policy, which took effect in January, halted the processing of applications for permanent settlement in the United States for citizens from 75 countries spanning the globe, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand, and Yemen. Authorities had originally defended the ban as a necessary means to prevent individuals from so-called high-risk countries from unlawfully accessing welfare systems or imposing a financial burden on public resources.
However, the court found that instructions given to consular officials were improper, as they mandated the blanket refusal of immigrant visas purely based on nationality, regardless of an individual’s circumstances or demonstrated eligibility. As a result, the judge’s decision invalidates all visa denials made solely on the basis of the contested policy.
While the federal government retains the right to appeal the decision, the ruling represents a decisive judicial rebuke of a central plank of President Trump’s immigration agenda.