A U.S. judge has struck down President Donald Trump’s visa ban affecting Nigerians and nationals of 74 other countries, ruling that the policy was “patently unlawful.”
Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York in Manhattan issued the ruling on Friday, stating that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio lacked the statutory authority to implement the policy.
According to Vargas, the policy, which categorically barred the issuance of immigrant visas based on applicants’ nationalities, directly violated the existing statutory framework governing U.S. immigration.
Earlier this year, the U.S. government suspended immigrant visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries, with the policy taking effect on January 21. The affected nations span Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and other regions.
The U.S. Department of State had said the suspension was necessary to allow the government to reassess immigration procedures and prevent the entry of foreign nationals who could become dependent on welfare and other public benefits.
The visa suspension was part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which remained a major focus of his 2024 presidential campaign ahead of his return to the White House.
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